You're watching...

From football star to paper plane world record holder

Details

  • Description

    Former college quarterback teams up with plane designer

  • Duration 3:03
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Editor's Picks

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

John Collins made history in February and it wasn't just because he broke the Guinness world record for the longest paper airplane flight -- get out there get up there.

It was how we did it or rather how we didn't do Collins has been perfecting his paper -- designs for most of his life.

He's written books makes public appearances as the paper airplane guy and even has his own iPhone app.

But a few years ago he realized his throws were topping out at around 120 feet short of the world record because.

-- Joseph are you a former university of cal.

When -- Berkeley quarterback who once threw for more than 17100 yards -- -- -- I would.

Have the plane out -- -- straight back.

And then as I would come forward it would come through on a follower motion trying to stay on the same plane so it -- and real speed -- trying to.

Looks like and this Collins met -- -- through a colleague at the local TV station in San Francisco where he works.

Which -- you throwing his planes were able to soar past the Guinness record set in 2003.

And reach in new paper -- distance market nearly 227.

The first to -- this kind of you know went to the wayside.

A principal I -- it's going to be great.

He's that he like paper planes he's totally into it and that he's just a great clarity continuity is doing united before he knew it I was on board I I grew up -- paper airplanes and throwing -- myself.

A -- kind of brought paper airplanes back and in my world those kind of -- get bringing back -- the added childhood youth the good times is doesn't have to for me an easy decision to get on board I was complete prepared and and and had to sort of -- the back.

That Joseph was going to be -- record -- mcginnis officially name both men -- record holders in March.

Colin says that could set a good precedent.

Helping those who might not have a strong arm compete with strong designs I'm kind of hoping that that it might break it a little bit further open that.

Somebody who has a really good idea for design.

Won't be.

Hampered by the idea that they don't have a great arm some traditionalists have -- at the idea -- the two men paper plane crew taking a title in what's long been deemed an individual sport.

I didn't counters that other paper -- designers could simply have been as innovative as Collins.

And tap their own -- here to -- for them at the recent Red Bull paper wings competition in Salzburg Austria.

Competitors through under strict guidelines that had designers throw their own planes Joseph I you thinks that throwing traditionalists are missing out.

That's too bad that they missed the boat you know I think John had a great idea with.

With getting an arm to throw the plane I think he realized that his arms -- out -- distance that wasn't gonna break the record.

So you know why.

Why just stop just because you don't have an arm right in you have the design that can do -- get somebody in there that can do and I think it's completely.

Who did it is what it is I mean we broke the world record and you know.

-- try to hit -- that and that's -- fit perfectly put in San Francisco I'm John Letzing for the Wall Street Journal.