How a Childhood Fascination With Paper Airplanes Became a World Record Career

How a Childhood Fascination With Paper Airplanes Became a World Record Career

From Our American Stories by iHeartPodcasts

June 10, 2026 · 20 min

About this episode

John Collins shares how his childhood fascination with paper airplanes led him to become a world record holder.

On this episode of Our American Stories, most children eventually outgrow paper airplanes. John Collins never did. What began as a childhood fascination with folding paper and experimenting with flight grew into a lifelong passion that led him to become the Guinness World Record holder for the farthest paper aircraft flight at 226 feet, 10 inches. John shares the story of decades spent designing, testing, and refining paper airplanes, the unlikely partnership that helped him break a long-standing world record, and how a simple hobby ultimately became his full-time career. Along the way, he learned a lesson he now shares with others: don't be afraid to go big. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Host: unknown

Guest: John Collins

Topics covered

  • paper airplanes
  • world record
  • childhood fascination
  • hobby
  • career

Keywords

  • paper airplanes
  • world record
  • John Collins
  • flight
  • hobby
  • career

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Guinness World Record, iHeartPodcasts

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