When Pigs (and Other Crazy Things) Fly
Since the dawn of time, man (especially Drunk Man) has dreamed of flight. And before Wilbur and Orvil got it right in Kitty Hawk, several people tried and failed gloriously to achieve even moments of gravity-defying greatness. Nowadays, flying is something most of have done and we tend to take for granted. But there are those who choose to chase the elusive dream of flight in spite of its prevalence in today’s world. Where can you find these creative and somewhat insane individuals? At a Red Bull Flugtag, of course; an event so wildly creative and addicting fun that it is in my must-experience-before-you-die activities in life.
The word “Flugtag” is German and literally means “Flying Day.” It is the brainchild of Red Bull’s owner Dietrich Mateschitz, and since 1991 this unique flying competition has been held every year in over 35 countries. The contest in simple: design a human powered flying machine, drag it up a 30 foot ramp, and then launch yourself over a large body of water in hopes of flight, or at least a wicked crash. Your flying machine cannot weigh more than 450 pounds (including the pilot), be constructed of natural materials, and it needs to float so the clean up crew can dispose of it properly.
Teams aren’t just judged on how far they fly (or fall), but on creativity and sportsmanship. It’s these later categories that add a real dimension of fun to this sport. The flying contraptions that I witnessed at the St. Paul Flugtag included a giant mosquito, a Family Truckster (from National Lampoon’s Vacation) and a giant Acme Rocket driven by a Wile E. Coyote himself. While none of these crafts flew very far at all, they were a ton of fun to watch plummet into the cold Mississippi river.
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