A homemade aircraft competition
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
An aerodynamic axe, a projectile coffin and a flying pickle dog took to the skies over St. Paul Saturday. They were among the 37 homemade aircraft to compete in the 2010 Red Bull Flugtag on Harriet Island.
Flugtag is German for "flying day," and the contest celebrates the possibilities of human-powered flight.
Teams launched their homemade flying machines over -- and ultimately into -- the Mississippi River. They were judged on flight distance as well as creativity and showmanship.
Organizers estimated that about 90,000 spectators came to watch the event.
Flugtag rules prohibit external energy sources or stored power, meaning the homemade flying machines rely entirely on human power. The runway is a 30-foot-high platform on the bank of the Mississippi River.
The winner of the competition was a team called Major Trouble and the Dirty Dixies, whose craft flew 207 feet -- a new Flugtag record.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
