Air Force Major Breaks 17 World Records for Kids in Need

Major Jonathan Buckingham whirls flaming knives while balancing on a moving board, catches medicine balls in boxing gloves, and pops balloons at lightning speed. The Air Force officer has turned these quirky talents into 17 Guinness World Records and a mission to help kids.

The Honolulu native works as a program manager at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts, but his side hustle is anything but ordinary. He founded the World Record Breakers Club, a nonprofit that combines record-breaking stunts with fundraising for children's sports programs.

His records range from pure athleticism to oddly specific skills. He holds the fastest time to travel all seven continents and the most basketball bounces on a balance board in one minute. Other achievements include fastest time to put on 10 socks and most balloons burst with feet in one minute.

"Some of them are pure athleticism, and others are completely skills based," Buckingham said. One record required blowing up 200 balloons and popping them with a nail, a preparation process that took six hours alone.

Before becoming a record breaker, Buckingham flew KC-135 Stratotankers on over 120 combat missions in the Middle East. He attended the Air Force Academy on a tennis scholarship before transitioning from pilot to acquisitions work in 2017.

His fellow Airmen have joined the cause. Captain Adam Farah helped Buckingham set the record for most medicine ball catches while wearing boxing gloves during a deployment to Korea. "What he's been doing is really, really cool," Farah said.

The Ripple Effect

The World Record Breakers Club has collectively broken 27 records, with members turning spectacle into service. The nonprofit has donated about $2,000 worth of equipment and books to organizations from Connecticut to South Africa.

Buckingham has three more records pending review and continues hunting for new challenges. "We're doing something fun and something cool with these world records," he said. "Hopefully, we garner some inspiration for the children, but then also raise funds to buy sports equipment."

Every popped balloon and balanced basketball bounce brings sports gear to kids who need it most.