Giant Paper Airplane: Pima Air & Space Museum Lifts Off 800-Pound Paper Airplane (VIDEO)

That is one massive paper airplane.

Giant class clowns, this is for you.

The Pima Air & Space Museum in Arizona celebrated its Great Paper Airplane launch on Wednesday with the maiden voyage of a 45-foot, 800-pound paper aircraft.

The design was inspired by 12-year-old paper airplane distance contest winner Aturo Valdenegro. The Tucson boy won the honor of meeting engineers who oversaw the design and construction of the massive paper plane after claiming first prize in the museum's competition, held in January.

Organizers lifted the paper aircraft by helicopter up approximately 2,703 feet before letting it sail.

Here's a first-hand account of the flight, compliments of the museum's live blog:

"After it was lifted off the ground by its nose, our giant paper airplane rose and rose until it began swaying pretty heavily in the wind (a product of our having to delay the launch until the evening instead the calmer morning). Aaron, our helicopter pilot then gave the order to cut the plane loose from the cable when it began to pull the chopper itself in a strong gust. But after it was released, for several shining moments, our huge, beautiful, silly, hubristic 45-foot paper airplane soared."

The plane reached speeds of 98 mph and then glided into history.

The museum does not seem to have plans of shooting a half ton spit-ball through an enormous straw.

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Comments

[ontariogirl]

11:09 AM on 03/27/2012

Our new F35....

[vermontclumber]

04:26 PM on 03/26/2012

The Pima Air & Space Museum needs some oversight.
This is a huge 800lb waste of money. "well I have an idea mr. chairman..."
Could have built a bike path bridge to nowhere for that kind of money, time and engineering.
Though this is an idea Newt would probably support.

[smastro1]

09:47 AM on 03/25/2012

If it did work ,It was an 800 pound uncontroled flight that could have caused some damage if it landed on someones car or property.

[hanspij]

01:53 PM on 03/25/2012

You missed the flight in the next video?
Wonder how much homes and ppl live out there in the midle of the dessert?Think they are wel aware that it can do some harm.

[cotter]

09:02 AM on 03/25/2012

I accidentally spilled my Red Bull and ruined the tail section sorry.

[zanedvs]

10:43 PM on 03/24/2012

Six seconds. Wow!!!!!!!!!

[KawaiiNoire]

09:59 PM on 03/24/2012

Phineas and Ferb!!!! xD

[koos458]

01:13 PM on 03/24/2012

Calling all Mythbusters!

[WILLIEMOJORISIN]

12:45 PM on 03/24/2012

There's 3 minutes of my life I'll never get back.

[IfIonlyknew]

06:29 PM on 03/24/2012

If you were here they were not minutes that you will miss, or have used any better somewhere else.

[WILLIEMOJORISIN]

07:57 PM on 03/24/2012

Your probably right,but the vid left a lot to be disired.

[Canefighter]

12:14 PM on 03/24/2012

This would make a great class project for a college physics class.

[Opus Fideo]

10:06 PM on 03/25/2012

class project? they barely have enough time in one semester to cover the normal course material, let alone start working on pointless side projects.

Only when you become a real engineer do you get to do fun stuff like this :)

[Arcticwolf1966]

10:29 AM on 03/24/2012

Not sure but sound like missing information there. 2000+ feet and only 6 seconds of "flight". Sound like it was almost in free fall instead of flying. I believe pilots call that a STALL!

[Dougv]

05:16 AM on 03/24/2012

This sure beats folding the church bulletin into a paper airplane and tossing it across the sanctuary.

[koos458]

01:12 PM on 03/24/2012

Amen!

[czs5056]

04:34 PM on 03/25/2012

but i got really good at hitting the priest in his left eye

[Opus Fideo]

10:06 PM on 03/25/2012

i like you

[Major lackland]

02:47 AM on 03/24/2012

Well the kid just gave away his secret on how he got here. Don't tell the sheriff.

[taurus58]

01:22 AM on 03/24/2012

that would have cost the us gov billions

[kwaut lizard]

08:26 AM on 03/24/2012

Good thing it wasn't a government project.

[LEFTYLIAR]

12:33 AM on 03/24/2012

Another failed Obama green project.

[Robert Lovelace]

04:41 AM on 03/24/2012

"But after it was released, for several shining moments, our huge, beautiful, silly, hubristic 45-foot paper airplane soared."
"The plane reached speeds of 98 mph and then glided into history."

That would be a NON fail.

I would say read the article and get actual facts, but judging by your stupid and topically unrelated Obama comment, I'm sure facts and critical thinking are anathema to you.

[QB Vll]

07:56 AM on 03/24/2012

This wont win you any elections.

[Bloodylocoyaheard]

12:30 AM on 03/24/2012

Please tell me tax payers didn't pay for this....

[QB Vll]

07:57 AM on 03/24/2012

Maybe if you took the time to actually read you wouldnt have to be spoon-fed your information.
Please find out for your du***** self.