LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentuckians will soon have the opportunity to take flight with homemade human-powered flying machines it an event that has attracted as many as 100,000 spectators in other cities.
Red Bull Flugtag, which translates to “Flying Day” in German, will make its inaugural debut in Louisville on Aug. 27 at Waterfront Park. The event has been conducted in other cities around the world since 1991.
“Our city worked hard to land Flugtag because the event represents everything Louisville is—creative, authentic, energetic, weird—and it celebrates our Ohio River heritage,” said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. “Flugtag will also add to Louisville’s economy, drawing fans and participants from around the region and country. It’s a comedic brother of our city’s other popular air show, Thunder Over Louisville.”
Applications will be accepted through May 1. The event calls for teams of carpenters, athletes, designers, engineers, entertainers and everyone in between to attempt to turn their dreams of flight into reality. Five-member teams of aspiring aviators and courageous craftsmen and women can apply for a chance to compete at Red Bull Flugtag 2016 by submitting flying-machine plans to www.RedBullFlugtag.com.
Teams will be selected by the end of May. On Aug. 27, competitors will take the plunge off the 22-foot-high flight deck in front of thousands of roaring fans as they attempt to break the 258-foot distance record, set in 2013.
While the sky may be the limit on creativity, there are a few flight regulations. First, all flying machines must be entirely human-powered (no external sources or stored power, so forget about the slingshots, catapults or anything besides your own burliness). Additionally, all crafts must be less than 24 feet wide, and must weigh no more than 440 pounds (including the pilot).
Applying to participate in Red Bull Flugtag is free. Pilots and participants must be 18 or older. For more information, including applications, rules, photos and video footage from past Red Bull Flugtag events, visit www.RedBullFlugtag.com.
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