World Record: Largest Paper Airplane from Braunschweig
News News blog
In 2013, a student team from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at TU Braunschweig broke the world record for the largest paper airplane. The 18-meter-wide and 5-meter-long model named "Carolo-Wilhelminchen" flew over 15 meters on the first attempt, securing its entry into the Guinness Book of Records.
Masterpiece of Engineering
The construction of the record-breaking paper airplane was a masterpiece of engineering. The 14-member team of students, staff, and a schoolboy developed a completely new design. Over months of work, they calculated the aerodynamics, glued individual parts together, and finally assembled the entire plane. In total, they invested a remarkable 2,400 working hours.
Valuable Learning Experience
For those involved, the project was much more than a hobby. They learned a great deal about aerodynamics, joining technology, materials science, as well as teamwork and project management - valuable knowledge that they can also apply in their studies. Due to its size, the paper airplane could only be tested on a computer before the record attempt.
Support from the Airport
Specifically for the flight test, Braunschweig-Wolfsburg Airport provided part of its infrastructure. In a hangar, Andreas Scholtz threw the 24 kg aircraft, made only of paper and glue, with momentum from a 2.40 m high scaffold. And indeed, "Carolo-Wilhelminchen" flew over 18 meters on the first attempt.
Narrowly Failed Predecessor
The team had already made a first record attempt in 2012 but narrowly failed at the time. Thanks to five times longer preparation, it worked out right away in 2013. The previous record was held since 1995 by TU Delft (Netherlands) with a paper airplane just under 14 meters wide.
The Braunschweig team is overjoyed with the success. A Guinness record judge confirmed on-site that all rules were followed. The paper airplane world record is proof of the innovative power and skill of the students at TU Braunschweig.
