All Fermi answers
Fermi #61 · Question 2

How far is the world record for the longest paper airplane throw?

Explore the official answer and the simple reasoning behind this Fermi estimate.

2QUESTION 2 OF 3

Answer & explanation

The official answer, with Fermi’s reasoning step by step.

Answer & explanation

Official answer

323

feet

How to estimate it

Fermi’s official “Napkin math”

Start with your own best throw, a paper airplane that sails across a classroom, maybe 30 feet. How much farther does a world record go? A lot farther. Call it 10 times.

Good throw, across a classroom
≈ 30 ft
Record, 10 times farther
× 10
30 × 10
≈ 300 ft

Rounded assumptions may give a slightly different estimate. The official answer above is the game’s reference value.

Source calculation & reference
Record distance
98.43 m
Guinness-stated conversion
322 ft 11 in
Rounded
≈ 323 ft

Reference cited by Fermi: Guinness World Records, farthest flight by a paper aircraft (Liu Liwen and team, China, 28 December 2025)

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