World's Largest Paper Airplane Sculpture, world record in Fitchburg, Massachusetts

February 10, 2024

Fitchburg, Massachusetts, United States--Jerry Beck, the founder and artistic director of the Revolving Museum, unveiled what he's calling Project Soar at the Fitchburg Municipal Airport; at 64 feet long and about 1,500 pounds, the paper airplane sets the world record for being the World's Largest Paper Airplane Sculpture, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

Photos: Project Soar

"Jerry Beck, the founder and artistic director of the Revolving Museum, unveiled what he's calling Project Soar at the Fitchburg Municipal Airport. At 64 feet long and about 1,500 pounds, the paper airplane may be the largest paper airplane sculpture in the world," the WBUR says.

"They made the body of the sleek paper airplane out of one-inch-thick corrugated cardboard. Then they collaged it with their drawings, photos, poetry and even historic documents.

"The public art project linked the Fitchburg community to communities all the way in Worcester, Boston and Nashua, New Hampshire. Beck asked students and citizens to leave their unique, artistic mark on the plane — whatever that may be."

Other Paper Airplane Records. There are many other world records related to paper airplanes. Here are just a few:

Longest Line of Paper Airplanes: 14,285 planes
Longest Chain of Paper Airplanes: 1,926 meters
Most Paper Airplanes Launched Simultaneously: 12,672
Most Paper Airplanes Thrown into Watermelons in One Minute: 13
Most Paper Airplanes Caught by Mouth in One Minute: 17
Most Paper Airplanes Made in One Hour: 12,026
Most Consecutive Catches of a Paper Airplane: 318
Most Consecutive Times By a Paper Airplane to Hit a Target: 13
Fastest Time to Fold and Throw a Paper Airplane: 7.03 sec

Source: Fold'N Fly

"The Revolving Museum is a nomadic public arts organization dedicated to the creation of public art projects, exhibitions, educational programs, performances and events that encourages collaboration, experimentation, and a meaningful dialogue between artists, youth, and community members."

"Fitchburg artist Jerry Beck told the Sentinel & Enterprise he wanted to break the world record for the largest paper airplane to take flight but the hangar it was built in was too small to accommodate a wide enough wingspan to support the glue-shellacked plane," the NBC Boston says.

"The plane project is meant to spotlight Fitchburg's history as a major paper producer. A construction crane held the plane aloft.

"Two people measured the plane at 64 feet and 6 inches long, which Beck says makes it is the largest of its kind. He's asking Guinness World Records to add a new category."

"Residents in Fitchburg came together in an attempt to create the world’s largest paper airplane, which was lifted into the air for the first time today. “It’s been a great feeling to pull that off for today,” said Jerry Beck, the founder of Revolving Museum. “It’s a beautiful day in Fitchburg,” the WHDH says.

"The giant creation measures 64 feet long and weighs nearly 2,000 pounds. Project organizers say that’s enough to land them in the Guinness Book of World Records. “We have a lot of talented people,” Beck said. “Engineers, pilots, safety personnel, that made sure we did it right.”

"The plane is covered in one-of-a-kind artwork thanks to the hard work of thousands of volunteers, students, and artists. “We’ve had people from all over the world contacting us and making art for us,” Beck said. The project has a special meaning for the city, which has a history of being a major paper producer."

"A Fitchburg museum set a world record Tuesday for the largest paper airplane and largest paper sculpture. Project Soar was undertaken by the Revolving Museum in Fitchburg and its founder and director Jerry Beck," the Boston 25 News says.

“Five-thousand-plus people working together from all over … throughout new England, believing that their art and their writing and their expression can mean something,” Beck said of the project.

"“It’s all corrugated cardboard four-by-eight sheets that have been glued together, then on top of that is the paper that has been made by all the different groups,” Beck explained. Officials said the project is a symbol for the struggling former mill town’s effort to rebuild its economy using one of the town’s recently closed paper mills."

"Creators of the paper airplane hope it will become a new Guinness World Record. The plane was 64-feet long and weighed in at over 1,500 pounds. It was put together by the Revolving Museum of Fitchburg's Project Soar," the CBS News says.

"Designing, constructing, and decorating the plane took over three years and thousands of participants, the museum said. The entire surface of the plane is covered in art.

"As a part of the unveiling event, Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatale, Revolving Museum Director Jerry Beck, and School Superintendent Andre Ravenelle all spoke. The Fitchburg Fire Department also released hundreds of small, colorful papers planes made by volunteers."