Most uncles play catch with their nieces in the backyard. David Rush of Idaho played catch with his face. His 13-year-old niece, Ali, threw paper airplanes straight at him, and he caught 20 of them in his mouth in just 60 seconds.
- David Rush caught 20 paper planes in his mouth in one minute, beating the old mark of 17.
- His 13-year-old niece Ali did all the throwing, and it took the pair two tries.
- Even with blunt-nosed planes, the stunt still hurt.
A Record Idea That Got Grounded
Rush is used to odd challenges. He holds more than 200 Guinness World Records titles, which is the most anyone holds at the same time. Juggling, unicycling, paper folding. If it can be counted or timed, there’s a good chance he’s tried it.
The paper plane catch wasn’t a new idea for him. He first thought about trying it years ago. Then he learned something the hard way. Getting poked in the face by the pointed tip of a paper airplane really hurts. So he set the idea aside.
A better plane brought it back. Rush found a design with a blunt nose. It still stung when it hit, but he called it painful rather than dangerous. That was enough of a difference to give the record another shot.
Why Ali Got the Job
A record like this takes two people. One catches. The other has to put every plane in the same small spot, over and over, while the clock runs.
Rush picked his niece Ali to throw, and she had an edge from her very first toss. She released the planes at a higher angle, and her throws came in steady. Rush said that wasn’t much of a surprise, since she’s a top-tier soccer goalie.
The two spent a full day practicing. They went through hundreds of throws, working on the timing until it felt good enough for a real attempt.
Two Tries to Take Flight
The first official run fell short. Rush caught 14 planes, three short of the record of 17. Close, but close doesn’t count in the record books.
So they went again. On the second attempt, things clicked. Ali kept the planes coming, Rush kept his mouth open, and he finished with 20 catches in one minute. That was enough to take the Guinness World Records title for the most paper aircraft caught by mouth in one minute.
That’s three more than the old mark. It’s also a lot of paper to the face in a short amount of time.
A Busy Season for Paper Planes
This wasn’t Rush’s only paper airplane record this fall. In September, he folded 415 paper planes in one hour on a racquetball court at the YMCA in Boise to claim another record. That works out to about one plane every 8.67 seconds.
He’s kept the family involved, too. In late September, he teamed up with his 3-year-old daughter for a hula hoop record. Earlier in October, he went after a record by moving malt balls with a straw.
Not every attempt goes smoothly. Back in July, he went after a record for juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle. The flames came close enough to singe his hair. He still blew past the old mark of 37 catches, finishing with 175 in a row.
Why Small Records Still Land Big Smiles
There’s something fun about a record like this one. It doesn’t need a stadium or fancy gear. It needs a stack of paper, a patient thrower, and someone willing to take a few hits to the face. Rush and Ali showed that a day of practice and a good partner can turn a painful idea into a win.
It’s also a reminder that even soft-looking stunts can sting. Blunt noses or not, those planes still hurt. This one is best left to people who know exactly what they’re signing up for. For everyone else, watching is the safer way to enjoy it. Rush got the record, but Ali’s steady arm might be the real star of the show.
