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Ed Yeates ReportingPaper airplanes, those simple little creations that sometimes fly and sometimes don't, are about to do their thing in a world-wide contest. Two Utah State University students are among only four picked from the United States to compete in the finals.
Tomorrow, two Utah State University students will fly to Salzburg Austria to compete in the first ever Paper Wings World Final. In this architectural masterpiece, called Hangar Seven, finalists from around the world will fold and launch.
Greg Morris and Randy Fischer beat out over 1,000 paper airplanes during qualifying events at more than 50 U.S. campuses this spring. Randy made it into the longest airtime category, his plane staying in the air for 9. 28 seconds.
Randy Fischer, USU Aviation Engineering Student: "There were planes that had huge wingspans and would go up and just flutter down. Others soared, but came straight down (laughs)."
Greg qualified for the longest distance, coming in at more than 161 and a half feet.
Greg Morris: "I found the more simpler the design, the better it flew."
Greg Morris, USU Aviation Engineering Student: "You wouldn't expect to get ahead in this world with a stupid flying paper airplane, but if it takes me to Austria, I'm all there."
As part of the contest, competitors have to fold their own paper airplanes just before they fly them. They can't go off in some room and build them. And simplicity here is the key. There's nothing difficult about making a paper plane.
Greg and Randy apparently know how. Folding, nose weight, the way they're thrown, and just plain luck.
And for the person who wins the grand prize?
"The prize is a surprise, whatever that means."
The sponsor, Red Bull, won't tell for now.
