A group of USI Engineering students are hitting the skies striving to break a Guinness World Record. The class is sending up a high altitude weather balloon then releasing a paper airplane at what they hope is at a record height. They started their day in Fairfield, Illinois at Fairfield High School, then followed the balloon all the way to western Gibson County. This record was set by a British group back in 2010, which they successfully released a plane at almost 89,000 feet. For these Screaming Eagles, they're aiming alot higher. Its a bird, its a plane...well sort of, its an attempt at a Guinness World Record. The goal, students want to send a paper plane attached to this balloon into the sky, and have it released at an altitude of at least 95,000 feet. This project takes hands on learning to a new level. Students set up shop at Fairfield High so the wind would blow the balloon back east. In the age of technology, there's a GPS and cameras in the plane. Without this equipment, these seniors say the attempt would be more difficult. World record or not, many say the experience is the greatest accomplishment. For these students, the sky is truly the limit. After tracking down their plane and what was left of the balloon, the students say unfortunately their camera memory card attached to the plane filled up prior to the plane's release so they have no way of knowing if it reached a world record altitude. But their spirits aren't too low, there's a plan to try again in the Spring.
