Hyper Scale PAPER Boeing 777 (The Fine Line Between Genius And Insanity) - MUST SEE!

(click pic to enlarge)  Luca Laconi-Stewart's UNBELIEVABLE paper 777!  (photo: flickr)

 If my research on this fresh and incredible internet phenomena is correct, Luca Laconi-Stewart lives in America and started this hyper-detailed 1:60 scale PAPER (manila folders to be more precise) Boeing 777 model five years ago! He took a couple years off the project while in college, but then dropped out to focus on the paper 777. The detail, especially in the moving parts is simply unimaginable.

 Watch the videos below and then go check out the extensive gallery of photos on the Luca Laconi-Stewart flickr page. 'Mind blown' is not hyperbole when you try to wrap your head around the reality of this effort.

 My understanding is that the project is not quite finished but it's getting close. And, he seems to be thinking he's gonna try an even better model next... that is if he doesn't have to go find a job to support this sitting-on-the-fence-between-genius-and-insanity obsession. 

 Bravo Mr. Luca Laconi-Stewart, BRAVO!

Perfect Paper Airplane Poll: James May -vs- Me! (Top Gear vs AirPigz)

Making the internet rounds is this paper airplane from Top Gear's James May

Please vote now in the paper airplane poll at the bottom of the post!

 I'm happy to see that one of the Top Gearheads (the long hair James May) is getting both himself and paper airplanes some fresh exposure on the internets, but at the same time I admit I'm a little frustrated by it all. Is that paper airplane pictured above a big enough deal for all this attention? Sorry, but I think not. Seems a whole lot more like some sort of publicity stunt to me. Click on James May's ultimate paper plane to go to the post at RadioTimes.com to learn more about it and see the instruction video.

 If you want a paper airplane to really get excited about then we need to talk! I published a post four years ago with video assembly instructions and a pattern that can be printed on your printer at home to make not only the perfect paper airplane, but one that also has the coolest graphics I've ever seen on one. Plus, the design I present doesn't just have upturned wingtips, I've brought you awesome vertical fins that protrude right out of the nifty delta wing! And flight performance? Dude, my paper airplane with Pigged up graphics (and a staple and paper clip) will outperform May's cutesy design every single day of the week. Even more, you'll have to go searching for a piece of that funky A4 paper (8.267" x 11.692") he uses, but with mine, a good ole trusty piece of eightandahalfbyeleven is all you need.

(sadly, my fold-it video has barely over 8,000 views while some of the dumbest paper airplane videos have millions of views... I don't understand this world)

Click the pic to go to the original 12-23-08 post for the AirPigz perfect paper airplane!
 

 Truth is, I hope you build them both. I think paper airplanes are good for kids and adults alike (from non-pilots to jet drivers)... we need more paper airplanes in this world. But honestly, I think I've given the world a much better paper airplane! What do you think? Please vote in the poll below to speak out in the great perfect paper airplane debate : )

Video: Paper Airplane Geeks Rejoice - New Distance World Record!

 Hey... designing, building and then throwing a paper airplane 226 feet 10 inches is a pretty big deal! That's what John Collins and Joe Ayoob have done as a team just last Sunday (February 26, 2012) in a hangar at McClellan Air Force Base outside of Sacramento California. As the video shows, that's a honkin' long way to throw a paper airplane! The team is expecting the feat to earn them a Guinness World Record as they have shattered the old record of 207 feet 4 inches set back in September 2003.

 For more details on the team and this new record-setting effort, check out this ESPN article. Then, to celebrate, I suggest you build the official 'perfect paper airplane' from AirPigz! Click the pic below to go to my dedicated post that I put up just weeks after the original launch of AirPigz way back in 2008. In that post you'll be able to print a pdf pattern (with awesome AirPigz graphics) and watch the video I made that shows you how to fold this incredibly great looking paper airplane.

Click the pic to for pattern and video instructions for the AirPigz Perfect Paper Airplane!

 I'm guessing the AirPigz paper airplane won't give the record any serious challenge, but carefully and properly built, this is one great flying piece of paper! C'mon, give it a try : )

Perfect Paper Airplane!

 I was looking for a cool paper airplane to make when I found some instructions on the net on how to make this one. Looked pretty sweet, so I gave it a try. It took me a couple tries, and a lot of ‘pause and play’ to get it figured out, but wow, what a great looking airplane, and it flew pretty nice too.

 Then I thought, hmmm, I bet it would look even nicer with some snazzy AirPigz graphics on it.  About 2 hours later I had a pattern made with graphics, and lines in key areas to make it easier to build. That’s when I knew that I should share this little guy with the world!

 The only modifications I made were to add both a paper clip and a staple.  The extra weight of the clip really gives this design some great penetration, and the staple helps hold it all together much better… that's especially good for the graphics.

 So, now you have a fun little project: print the pattern from the PDF file link below, then, watch the slick YouTube video that I made of the folding process. It might take a couple tries to get a good one, but hang in there, you're gonna want this - it really seems to be the perfect paper airplane!

 A couple quick things to note:  When you print the pattern, be sure to set the ‘page scaling’ to ‘none’ (as the screenshot below shows).  That way the lines will wind up in the right spot on the page where they’ll do you some good : )

 And then, let me know if you like this little paper airplane with the AirPigz paint job!  Leave a comment, send me a picture via email, let me know about it on twitter… I’d just like to know if you found this to be a fun project and if I should try to come up with more like it. Merry Christmas!

**  DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE PDF PATTERN FOR THE PAPER AIRPLANE  **

(be sure to set the page scaling to 'none' before you print) 

And then you're ready to watch the video instructions!