Brought to you by Red Bull.
Red Bull Flugtag is back.
It’s been six years since it was last here but Dun Laoghaire will host this year’s event on Sunday, 20 May. So what’s it all about, you ask.
It’s simple really. Teams of five are tasked with building their own flying machine from scratch before flying it off a ramp over water. It takes a particular kind of person to sign up for something like this so you can expect a mix of crazy, inspired, innovative and downright ballsy competitors on the day.
Watching teams attempt to fly their homemade creations off a nine-metre ramp over Dun Laoghaire harbour – what more could you want?
It’s a welcome return to Irish shores and there are plenty of reasons to get excited about this year’s event. Here are just a few of the reasons that we’re looking forward to Red Bull Flugtag.
1. The crashes
Let’s be honest. This is what most of us want to see. You’ll get to see some foolhardy teams throwing themselves off a huge ramp with little more than a hope, a prayer and a flying contraption that isn’t exactly aerodynamic.
2. The flights
In between the crashes and the splashes, there are always some teams who really pull it out of the hat. And when people get it right with their Red Bull Flugtag efforts, it can be pretty spectacular. Never underestimate human ingenuity and expect to see a few heroes nailing it at this year’s event.
3. The creativity on display
It’s not all about watching teams attempt to fly. The judges will be rewarding distance, creativity of craft and showmanship. So expect to see some mad outfits and some imaginative designs on display. Each team also puts on a performance before they throw their fate into the hands of the harbour gods.
4. You could see a new world record
The current record for the longest flight is an impressive 78.5 metres. That may seem pretty unbeatable but you can expect some of the competitors to be gunning for the title. This could be your chance to witness Red Bull Flugtag history in the flesh.
5. Dun Laoghaire will be buzzing
The organisers expect up to 50,000 spectators to descend on Dun Laoghaire for the event. Red Bull Flugtag is massive so there’ll be huge crowds coming to watch the madness. Local pubs and venues will also be live streaming the action so expect the town to be gripped by Red Bull Flugtag fever.
6. You’ll see all sorts of entries on the day
There’s more than one way to bend a cat, as they say. Part of the fun of Red Bull Flugtag is the sheer variety of flying machines on display. So you could have one team flying a giant duck, another launching a replica of the flying dog in Neverending Story and yet another taking to the air in a giant banana with wings. Where else would you get that?
7. The element of surprise
No matter how much the teams prepare, they really don’t know what will happen until they clear that ramp. Expect to see a few surprised looking faces as they plunge towards the water! That unpredictability makes for an exciting live spectacle. The only thing that’s guaranteed is that everyone goes in the water one way or another.
For more information, check out the Red Bull Flugtag website.
Brought to you by Red Bull.
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