National Paper Airplane Day

Celebrated on 05/26/2026

Quick Fact

Did you know that the world record for the farthest flight by a paper airplane is 69.14 meters (226 feet 10 inches), set by Joe Ayoob and John M. Collins in 2012? The design, known as 'Suzanne,' was folded from a single sheet of A4 paper without cuts or glue.

Origins and Establishment of National Paper Airplane Day National Paper Airplane Day is celebrated annually on May 26 in the United States. The holiday was established in 2001 by the Paper Airplane Association (PAA) as a way to honor the simple joy of folding and flying paper airplanes. The date was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the first successful paper airplane flight by the Wright brothers' prototype in 1903, though this connection is often debated among historians.

Evolution and Modern Commemoration Initially a small observance among aviation enthusiasts, National Paper Airplane Day gained popularity through social media and school activities. Today, it is marked by paper airplane contests, workshops, and online challenges. Organizations like the Red Bull Paper Wings world championship have turned the hobby into a competitive sport, with participants from over 80 countries. The day also serves as a promotional event for STEM education, highlighting aerodynamics and engineering principles.

Facts & General Observations - The longest recorded flight time for a paper airplane is 29.2 seconds, achieved by Takuo Toda in 2009. - Paper airplanes are used in classrooms worldwide to teach principles of physics and engineering, with over 1 million students participating in paper airplane lessons annually. - The Guinness World Record for the largest paper airplane flight (by wingspan) is a 40-foot-long plane launched from a helicopter in 2013.

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