Red Bull Flugtag (, 'airshow' lit. 'flight day') is an event organized by Red Bull in which competitors attempt to fly home-made, human-powered flying machines, size-limited to around 10 m and weight-limited to approximately 150 kg. The flying machines are usually launched off a pier about 9 m high into the sea or 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 30 ft and a maximum weight (including pilot) of 450 lb. In Australian Flugtags the wingspan is limited to 8 m and the weight (not including pilot) to 180 kg. 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 1 sqft.

World records

Distance

The record for the longest flight is 258 feet (78.6 m), 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

United States

Incidents

Serious injuries

Cancellation/termination by authorities

In video games

The Red Bull Flugtag is featured as a playable mini-game in a special "Red Bull space", called the Red Bull Beach, in PlayStation Home released on November 26, 2009.