Red Bull Flugtag
Red Bull Flugtag is an event organized by Red Bull in which competitors attempt to fly home-made, human-powered flying machines, size-limited to around and weight-limited to approximately. The flying machines are usually launched off a pier about high into the sea or other body of water. Most competitors enter for the entertainment value, and the flying machines rarely fly at all.
Background
The format was originally invented in Selsey, a small seaside town in the south of England under the name "Birdman Rally" in 1971. The first Red Bull Flugtag competition was held in 1992 in Vienna, Austria. It was such a success that it has been held every year since and in over 35 cities all over the world.Anyone is eligible to compete in the Flugtag event. To participate, each team must submit an application and their contraption must meet the criteria set forth by Red Bull. The criteria vary with location. In the United States each flying machine must have a maximum wingspan of and a maximum weight of. In Australian Flugtags the wingspan is limited to and the weight to. The craft must be powered by muscle, gravity, and imagination. Because the aircraft will ultimately end up in the water, it must be unsinkable and constructed entirely of environmentally friendly materials. The aircraft may not have any loose parts and advertising space is limited to.
World records
Distance
The record for the longest flight is 258 feet, set on September 21, 2013, at the Flugtag in Long Beach, California, by "The Chicken Whisperers" team in front of a crowd of 110,000.Attendance
The largest crowd was in Cape Town, South Africa with 220,000 attending in 2012.Results
Teams that enter the competition are judged according to three criteria: distance, creativity, and showmanship.International
| Country | City | Year | Date | Overall winner | Winning Distance | Description |
| South Africa | Johannesburg | 2000 | ||||
| New Zealand | Auckland | 2002 | Greatest American Hero | 22 m | The winner was a Carbon fibre and mylar glider, pilot lying prone. | |
| Croatia | Dubrovnik | 2002 | Stonebird | 17.5 m | Catapulted pilot | |
| Hungary | Sukoro | 2002 | Yunyai | 45.3 m | human-powered aircraft | |
| Belgium | Antwerp | 2003 | ||||
| Israel | Tel Aviv | 2003 | The Dragon from The Yarkon | 10.5 m | Flying dragon | |
| United Kingdom | London | 2003 | August 3 | |||
| Germany | Hamburg | 2004 | ||||
| New Zealand | Wellington | 2004 | March 14 | Klinging On | 23.5 m | Starship Enterprise |
| United Arab Emirates | Dubai | 2005 | Cre8tive 1 | 26 m | Polystyrene and aluminum | |
| Slovakia | Bratislava | 2005 | June 26 | Red Arrows Brno | 32 m | Wooden frame, Polystyrene profiles, paper, all-moving ailerons |
| Czech Republic | Prague | 2006 | June 25 | Easy Money 3 | 30 m | Wooden frame, Styrofoam and Fiberglass with all-moving tailplane |
| Canada | Vancouver, British Columbia | 2006 | The Big Shooter | 26 m | Kevlar, aluminum, titanium, carbon fiber and mylar. | |
| Netherlands | Rotterdam | 2006 | Aquaphobia | 30 m | Aluminum sheets and wrapping plastic. | |
| Brazil | São Paulo | 2006 | September 17 | |||
| Kuwait | Kuwait | 2007 | November 2 | The Flying Stars | 12 m | |
| United Arab Emirates | Dubai | 2007 | November 23 | Snoopy vs. the Red Bull | 21 m | Styrofoam, cardboard and Fiberglass flying wing with canard |
| Australia | Sydney | 2008 | April 6 | Team Mullet | 18.2 m | Giant Flounder on a fishing trawler |
| Turkey | Istanbul | 2008 | May 25 | Flying Turkeys | 26.9 m | |
| Poland | Poznań | 2008 | June 1 | |||
| United Kingdom | London | 2008 | June 7 | |||
| Russia | Moscow | 2009 | August 9 | |||
| Brazil | São Paulo | 2009 | August 15 | |||
| Colombia | Bogotá | 2008 | September 14 | Piragua del Aire | 8 m | |
| France | Marseille | 2009 | September 27 | Savonus vs Virus | 23.0 m | Household soap on a huge facecloth. |
| Ukraine | Kyiv | 2010 | June 19 | Kuz'kina Mat' | 12.0 m | The biplane with a cob of corn instead of the fuselage. |
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong | 2010 | October 10 | |||
| Kuwait | Kuwait | 2010 | November 5 | Dragonfly team | 11 m | Wood & Polystyrene |
| Ireland | Dublin | 2011 | May 22 | |||
| Israel | Tel Aviv | 2011 | June 3 | Arigami | 21.0 m | Polystyrene and aluminum. |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Port of Spain | 2011 | July 3 | |||
| Russia | Moscow | 2011 | August 7 | |||
| South Africa | Cape Town | 2012 | ||||
| Austria | Vienna | 2012 | ||||
| Germany | Mainz | 2012 | Monday 28 | Don Canallie und seine tollkühnen Schurken | 69,79 m | Wooden Hang Glider |
| Kuwait | Kuwait | 2012 | October 19 | Dragonfly team | 18 m | Aluminum and Polystyrene |
| Singapore | Sentosa | 2012 | October 28 | |||
| Saudi Arabiia | Jeddah | 2012 | December 13 | TeamSaher | 25 m | Foam, Wood and Aluminum |
| Turkey | Istanbul | 2013 | May 26 | Angara Börds | ||
| Ukraine | Kyiv | 2013 | June 2 | |||
| Serbia | Belgrade | 2013 | June 22 | Flyin’ figuar | 19.59 m | Aluminium, Polyethylene, PVC |
| Sweden | Stockholm | 2013 | June 30 | |||
| Russia | Moscow | 2013 | July 28 | |||
| Chile | Valparaíso | 2014 | February 8 | |||
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong | 2014 | May 11 | |||
| Portugal | Cascais | 2014 | September 6 | |||
| Russia | Moscow | 2015 | July 26 | |||
| India | Bangalore | 2015 | September 28 | |||
| Sweden | Gothenburg | 2015 | August 22 | |||
| Norway | Oslo | 2015 | August 23 | |||
| United Arab Emirates | Dubai | 2015 | November 27 | |||
| Italy | Milan | 2016 | June 19 | |||
| Peru | Lima | 2016 | June 25 | |||
| Bulgaria | Varna | 2016 | July 2 | |||
| Switzerland | Zürich | 2016 | July 16 | |||
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong | 2016 | November 27 | |||
| Russia | Moscow | 2017 | August 13 | |||
| Ireland | Dublin | 2018 | May 20 | |||
| Germany | Bremen | 2018 | July 1 | |||
| Australia | Sydney | 2018 | November 18 | Chip off the Old Block | 22 m | |
| Serbia | Belgrade | 2019 | June 30 | |||
| Russia | Moscow | 2019 | July 28 | Time Flies | Runner ups: Nine Eggs, Universal Twine | |
| Istanbul | Turkey | 2019 | August 4 | Coffee Lovers | Runner ups: Mother Force, Vecihi Team | |
| Russia | Moscow | 2021 | ||||
| Switzerland | Lausanne | 2021 | September 19 | |||
| Austria | Vienna | 2021 | September 26 | Die Flügelmütter | 12 m | Red Puch Maxi scale 3:1 with white paper angel wings. Material wood, carton |
| Turkey | Istanbul | 2022 | August 14 | Red Kids On The Sky | Runner ups: Suuuus'hi Team, Air Kiss | |
| Taiwan | Taichung | 2022 | September 18 | 老闆，一個控肉刈包不加香菜不加肥肉 | 32.75 m | |
| Canada | Toronto | 2022 | September 24 | Snappea Design | Runner Ups: DC3, THE MO SHOW | |
| New Zealand | Auckland | 2022 | December 10 | Red Barren and Snoopy | 47 m | Runner Ups: The Mighty Schizenhawken, Disco Far |
| Spain | Valencia | 2024 | June 2 | Hillside Hustlers | 26.7 m | |
| USA | Cincinnati | 2025 | August 9 | Chapter | 31.9 m | Runner Ups: La Barbacoa Voladora, Snowparty Sustainability Award: Crazy Goat Garage |
United States
- Austin, Texas, Saturday, April 26, 2003
- * First Place: Pop and Fizz – 70 ft
- * Second Place: Team Acme
- * Third Place: Winged Jalapeños
- * Most Creative: El Sombrerians
- Chicago, Illinois, Saturday, August 9, 2003
- * First Place: Sync, Swim or Fly – 51 ft
- * Second Place: Jake and Elwood
- * Third Place: The Kicken' Chicken
- * Most Creative: Candy Flyer
- Los Angeles, California, Saturday, September 20, 2003
- * First Place: When Pigs Fly – 66 ft
- * Second Place: West Coast Flying Machines
- * Third Place: The Marine Team
- * Most Creative: Red Bull Slugger
- New York, New York, Sunday, October 5, 2003
- * First Place: Pedal Power – 39 ft
- * Second Place: Mighty Whirl
- * Third Place: Bammr's Ballistic Bedrock
- * Most Creative: Urban Rodeo
- San Francisco, California, Saturday, October 25, 2003
- * First Place: El Toro Guapo – 61 ft
- * Second Place: Project S.T.O.L.
- * Third Place: Running of the Red Bulls
- * Most Creative: Snoop's Dogg House
- Miami, Florida, Saturday, April 24, 2004
- * First Place: The Resurrector – 33 ft
- * Second Place: Three Finger Salute
- * Third Place: Believe It or Not
- * Most Creative: Joy of Birth
- Portland, Oregon, Saturday, July 31, 2004
- * First Place: 2004 X-Wing Glider – 39 ft
- * Second Place: Flying Wonka Bar
- * Third Place: Oregon Santa Sleigh
- * Most Creative: Hair Force One
- Cleveland, Ohio, Saturday, July 31, 2004
- * First Place: Rover's Flying Glory – 63 ft
- * Second Place: Aerobus
- * Third Place: The Stork
- * Most Creative: Flying Musical Sensation
- Tempe, Arizona, Saturday, April 29, 2006
- * First Place: The Need for Speed – 26 ft
- * Second Place: Air Farce One
- * Third Place: El Vuelo Del Lobo
- * Most Creative: Dipsomaniacal Devil
- * People's Choice: El Vuelo Del Lobo
- * Farthest Flight: El Vuelo Del Lobo
- Baltimore, Maryland, Saturday, October 21, 2006
- * First Place: Victim's of Soi-cumstance – 81 ft
- * Second Place: Jump the Shark
- * Third Place: F-10-75
- * People's Choice: 4-4-0 American Flyer
- Nashville, Tennessee, Saturday, June 23, 2007
- * First Place: Rocky Top Rocket – 155 ft
- * Second Place: No. 1 Lucky Flyer
- * Third Place: Yellow Submarine
- * People's Choice: Galapagos Flight Club
- * Farthest Flight: Rocky Top Rocket
- Austin, Texas, Saturday, August 25, 2007
- * First Place: Skate and Destroy
- * Second Place: Superman's "Crip"tonite
- * Third Place: Billy Ocean's Flying Fish Taco
- * People's Choice: Congress Bridge Bats
- Tampa Bay, Florida, Saturday, July 19, 2008
- * First Place: Team Tampa Baywatch – 109 ft
- * Second Place: Air Gilligan – 32 ft
- * Third Place: The Little Engine That Could – 21 ft
- * People's Choice: Tampa Bay Derby Darlins
- Portland, Oregon, Saturday, August 2, 2008
- * First Place: Team Yakima Big Wheel – 62 ft
- * Second Place: Greased Lightning – 55 ft
- * Third Place: Free Ballin'
- * People's Choice: Space Balls
- Chicago, Illinois, Saturday, September 6, 2008
- * First Place: The Crustacean Avengers – 120 ft
- * Second Place: New Style Flyers – 75 ft
- * Third Place: Pie in the Sky! – 90 ft
- * People's Choice: The USHE
- Miami, Florida, Saturday, July 10, 2010
- * First Place: Team Formula Flug – 53 ft
- * Second Place: Ibis Engineers
- * Third Place: One Giant Leap
- * People's Choice: Team TransPlace
- Saint Paul, Minnesota, Saturday, July 24, 2010
- * First Place: Team Major Trouble and the Dirty Dixies from Inver Grove Heights – 207 ft
- * People's Choice: Team FORE Play from West Des Moines, IA
- Long Beach, California, Saturday, August 21, 2010
- * First Place: Team Peepin' It Real – 98 ft
- * Second Place: Green Machine
- * Third Place: Airforce 1
- * People's Choice: Green Army Men
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Saturday, September 4, 2010
- Tampa, Florida, Saturday, October 8, 2011
- * First Place: Willy Wonka's Amazing Flying Flugtag Adventure
- * Second Place: Adventure Team Bigstuff
- * Third Place: U.S.A. Team
- * People's Choice: Stumble Force
- Miami, Florida, Saturday, November 3, 2012
- San Francisco, California, Saturday, November 10, 2012
- Chicago, Illinois, Saturday, September 21, 2013
- Dallas, Texas, Saturday, September 21, 2013
- Long Beach, California, Saturday, September 21, 2013
- * First Place: The Chicken Whisperers – 258 ft
- Miami, Florida, Saturday, September 21, 2013
- Washington, D.C., Saturday, September 21, 2013
- Portland, Oregon, Saturday, August 1, 2015
- Boston, Massachusetts, Saturday, August 20, 2016
- * First Place: Flite-Riot
- * Second Place: What Sphinx?
- * Third Place: Something Wonderful
- * People's Choice: Flite-Riot
- Louisville, Kentucky, Saturday, August 27, 2016
- * First Place: MMMad MMMax
- * Second Place: Dukes of Hazzardous by Kre8Now Makerspace – 82 ft
- * Third Place: Kentucky Power
- * People's Choice: Mercy No Mercy – Mercy Academy
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Saturday, August 5, 2017
- * First Place: Flight at the Roxbury – 78 ft
- * Second Place: Survivor Tractor – 121 ft
- * Third Place: Left Field Loonies
- * People's Choice: The Flite Testers
- Nashville, Tennessee, Saturday, September 23, 2017
- * First Place: Ground Control – 81 ft
- * Second Place: His Majesties Royal Circus and the Flying Irish Woman
- * Third Place: YMCA
- * People's Choice: Team Smashville
- St. Paul, Minnesota, Saturday, September 7, 2019
- * First Place: Spooners' Revenge – 54 ft
- * Second Place: Ferris Bueler's Takeoff – 63 ft
- * Third Place: Flying POS
- * 24 Hour Greatness Award: Spooners' Revenge
- Milwaukee, WI, Saturday, July 16, 2022
- * First Place: Flight For Your Right to Party – 66 ft
- * Second Place:
- * Third Place: Bear-Naked Chonkers
- * People's Choice: FLYING SCHMEAT
- Cincinnati, Ohio, Saturday, August 12, 2023
- Irving, Texas, Saturday, September 13, 2025
- * First Place: Flambouyancy 2: Flyboyant
- * Second Place: Charcoal Commanders
- * Third Place: 100 Men vs Gorilla
Incidents
Serious injuries
- Bucharest, September 19, 2010: broken back, skull fracture
- Pittsburgh, August 4, 2017: ruptured spleen, traumatic brain injury
- Nashville, September 23, 2017: Lumbar vertebrae
Cancellation/termination by authorities
- The Portland, Oregon, competition, held on August 1, 2015, at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, wherein craft were launched into the Willamette River, was ended early by the United States Coast Guard after an excessive number of spectator boats filled the river, making it impassable to commercial traffic. One collision was reported between a spectator boat and a commercial vessel, though damage was minimal and no injuries occurred.