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About Red Bull Flugtag
Named after the German word for 'flying day', Red Bull Flugtag challenges the brave and brainy to design, build, and pilot human-powered flying machines off an 8.5m flight deck in the hope of soaring... or more often, plunging into the waters below.
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(Here’s a story we covered last fall [in those joyous times before social distancing and global pandemics] that we didn’t manage to post at the time-- enjoy a memory from better days and stay safe!)
Red Bull Flugtag, the one-of-a-kind, human-powered flying craft competition returned to St. Paul for its second time in its event history, last September at Harriet Island Regional Park.
Flugtag translates roughly from German to “flying day” or “air show” and 38 teams launched their homemade crafts as far as they could, from a thirty foot high ramp platform on a docked barge (a last minute decision to fill the barge for added stability brought the height down to 23ft) on the Mississippi River, as large crowds watched along both banks, from apartment balconies, and in boats dotting all around the event.
Each flight team of five was scored by a panel of local celebrity judges according to three criteria: distance, creativity, and overall showmanship and the family-friendly event was free and held on a clear, somewhat chilly weekend afternoon.
Flugtag returned to the area for the first time since July 2010, and became Red Bull’s only flying event since 2017. The roots of the competition date back to Selsey, England and 1971 when it was called ‘The Birdman’s Rally’, with the first Flugtag taking place in Vienna in 1991 and now with over 150 competitions since, in over thirty-five different international locations.
In the United States, each flying machine must have a maximum wingspan of 30 feet (9.1 m) and a maximum weight (incl. pilot) of 450 pounds (200 kg) with the craft powered only by muscle, gravity, and imagination. Additionally, because the aircraft will ultimately end up in the water, it must be unsinkable and constructed entirely of environmentally friendly materials, cannot have any loose parts, and any advertising space is limited to one square foot.
The fun format attracts engineers, curious builders, and fun-seeking enthusiasts to build machines in the shape of flying tacos, prehistoric pterodactyls, giant hamburgers, and more. Distance is actually measured at the point the pilot hits the water, not the craft, resulting in many last-second leaps, to gain those precious extra few feet (and added fun effect).
Large video screens were positioned in the park so spectators could all grab a good look, without having to arrive early to stake a spot along the river banks, food and beverage tents were plentiful (loads of Red Bull drink on hand, of course), and the judges were perched back in a tented elevated booth for a good view of the action.
Most teams relied on a centralized theme, translating it into the design and finish of their aircraft, the costumes of each member, and a brief (often musical and somewhat choreographed) dance routine, which precluded the vehicle push off the high ramp.
While everyone clearly had fun, only a small handful of the entered aircraft actually somewhat flew, with most crashing down almost immediately into the river, and the crew members usually gleefully jumping in after.
2010’s champion, from Inver Grove Heights, flew an impressive 207 ft for the victory, but the crowd had to wait this time, for the very last craft to sail, ‘Spooner’s Revenge’ (their design inspired by the famous Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis) to fly the event-winning distance of 54 feet, helmed by a St. Paul team that placed second in 2010.
After an awards ceremony, the crowd dispersed to a street party on nearby West 7th St. to finish the afternoon celebrating. Red Bull’s slogan is that the caffeine and taurine-powered energy drink “gives you wings” (nevermind that it’s been recently legally challenged) and with a fun and clever marketing event like the Flugtag, everyone is happy to agree, at least for the afternoon.
Flugtag St. Paul 2019 Results:
Second Place: Ferris Buehler's Takeoff
Third Place: Flying POS
24 Hour Greatness Award: Spooners' Revenge
Largest Attendance- Cape Town, South Africa with 220,000+ in 2012.
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Red Bull Flugtag 2019 at Harriet Island, St. Paul |
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