Meet Angus Johnstone, the Australian teacher who kept a kite in the air for more than 26 hours to raise money for Myanmar | World News
Australian teacher and kite enthusiast Angus Johnstone has turned an unusual hobby into a Guinness World Records achievement and a fundraising campaign for Myanmar. In March 2026, Johnstone kept a kite airborne for 26 hours, 15 minutes and 15 seconds in Killarney, Victoria, earning the Guinness title for the longest kite flight by an individual. He began the attempt at 7:37 a.m. on March 14 and continued through an entire night before bringing the kite down the following morning. The challenge was also a personal mission for Johnstone, who previously lived and worked in Myanmar and met his wife there. He used the record attempt to raise money for grassroots health and education initiatives in Myanmar and among refugee communities along its borders.
Angus Johnstone flew the kite through an entire night
Johnstone began the record attempt on March 14, 2026, in Killarney, Victoria, with a target of keeping his kite airborne for at least 24 hours. He ultimately exceeded that goal by more than two hours, completing the flight after 26 hours, 15 minutes and 15 seconds. During the attempt, he remained awake while sitting for long periods in a lawn chair and holding the kite line, carefully watching the kite as wind conditions changed. The challenge continued through daylight, sunset, darkness and a second sunrise. Stronger gusts eventually gave way to gentler nighttime winds, making it necessary for Johnstone to keep monitoring the kite’s height, angle and movement. Guinness World Records officially recognised his achievement as the longest kite flight by an individual. The attempt was monitored by 10 official observers and two timekeepers, while friends and supporters worked in shifts to provide food, water and encouragement. Johnstone later told The Standard that he was “beyond tired” after completing the record, but said the excitement and support around him helped him continue.
His love of kite flying began during the COVID pandemic
Johnstone’s record-breaking challenge grew from a hobby he developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when restrictions limited many activities and kite flying offered him a way to spend time outdoors. He gradually became deeply interested in the hobby, joining online kite-flying communities, learning about different designs and collecting kites. His interest eventually developed into endurance flying and record attempts, but the 2026 challenge gave him an opportunity to connect his hobby with a cause that was personally important. Johnstone previously lived and worked in Myanmar, including time in Yangon and Lashio, and worked as a teacher there. He developed friendships during his years in the country and also met the woman who became his wife. His personal connection to Myanmar was the reason he decided to use the record attempt to raise money and awareness for communities affected by the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The record attempt raised thousands for Myanmar
Johnstone’s GoFundMe campaign, titled “Fly with Myanmar: World’s Longest Kite Flight”, has raised A$18,843 from 218 donations, exceeding its original A$18,000 target. The fundraiser says the money is intended to support grassroots health and education initiatives in Myanmar and among refugee communities along its borders. Johnstone’s campaign comes as the country continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis involving armed conflict, displacement, disrupted services and economic hardship. The United Nations estimates that more than 16 million people will need humanitarian assistance in Myanmar in 2026, while the World Health Organization estimates that 9.3 million people will require health assistance. Johnstone has previously used unusual personal challenges to raise money for Myanmar, including a 2024 “Monobrows for Myanmar” campaign that raised more than A$4,000. The kite flight therefore became another unconventional way for him to combine his personal interests with fundraising for a country that remains closely connected to his life.
Keeping a kite airborne for 26 hours was no easy task
Although kite flying can look effortless when conditions are favourable, maintaining a single kite in the air for more than a day requires careful attention to wind, height and angle. Johnstone had to remain awake throughout the attempt and respond as the weather changed from daytime conditions to a gentler nighttime breeze and back again. His support team helped monitor the attempt and keep him supplied with food and water, but Johnstone remained responsible for holding the kite line and keeping the kite airborne. Photographs from the challenge show supporters feeding him grapes while he continued flying, as well as Johnstone sitting under the night sky with the kite still visible above him. The attempt ended on March 15 after 26 hours, 15 minutes and 15 seconds, when Johnstone finally brought the kite back to the ground as supporters gathered to celebrate. The achievement is specifically the longest kite flight by an individual, rather than the longest kite flight overall, as Guinness World Records has separate categories for team attempts.
A world record with a personal purpose
For Johnstone, the Guinness title was ultimately a way to draw attention to Myanmar while doing something he genuinely enjoys. The record gave his fundraising campaign an unusual hook, turning more than 26 hours of endurance flying into an opportunity to collect donations and highlight the needs of communities in a country where he once lived and taught. His achievement also shows how a hobby developed during the pandemic can evolve into an extraordinary endurance challenge with a humanitarian purpose. After more than a day of holding the kite line, staying awake and watching the wind, Johnstone finally brought the colourful kite back to the ground, securing a Guinness World Records title while raising thousands of Australian dollars for a cause with a deeply personal connection to him.
