Red Bull Flugtag

The Red Bull Flugtag is a competition where contestants lauch their human powered aeroplanes off a ramp, fly as far as possible and land in the water.

The competition is a fun event to watch, the aeroplanes are made in the shape of animals, household items, and almost everything imagineable. Most go straight into the water, but the people are there to have fun and that's what makes the event for enjoyable to watch.

Some of the aeroplanes actually fly well, and get a big cheer from the crowd.

The Red Bull Flugtag website is a really good website, where you can download video clips from previous events.

THE QUEST FOR HUMAN FLIGHT CONTINUES...

The first Red Bull Flugtag took place in Vienna, Austria, in 1991. Since then, more than 35 Red Bull Flugtags have been held around the world – from Ireland to San Francisco – attracting nearly 300,000 spectators. The record for the farthest flight to date currently stands at 195 feet set in 2000 at Red Bull Flugtag Austria. The previous U.S. record was 78 feet, set in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2004.

While there has never been a limit on creativity, there are a few rules and regulations. First off, all flying machines must be entirely human-powered (no external energy sources or stored power). Secondly, all crafts must be less than 30 feet wide. And finally, no matter what they say, size does matter – all crafts must weigh no more than 450 lbs. (including the pilot).