Calling all geniuses, madmen, and visionaries: Red Bull Flugtag takes flight once again in Canada's capital

- Starting April 1^st, Canadians are invited to submit their creative and outrageous human-powered flying machines to hit the flight deck in Ottawa-Gatineau -

TORONTO, March 28, 2013 /CNW/ - Captains, are you ready for take off? Red Bull Flugtag returns to Ottawa-Gatineau on July 27, 2013; and for creative geniuses across the country, the sky's the limit as they attempt to take flight in the most imaginative and inventive human-powered flying machines, daring to defy gravity. Flugtag, which means "flying day" in German, challenges the brave and the brainy to design, build, and pilot homemade flying machines, and launch themselves off a 22-foot high ramp in hopes of soaring into the clouds…or more often, plunging into the waters below. For Red Bull Flugtag's third time ever in Canada, daredevil visionaries will take off from a "flight deck" built at the Canadian Museum of Civilization with nothing but the Ottawa River between them and a triumphant aeronautical attempt to the shore of the Parliament Buildings.

Beginning on April 1, applications will be accepted nationwide, and up to thirty teams of four people will be granted license to take off. All completed application forms and designs must be submitted and postmarked by May 31, 2013 at the latest. Selected teams will receive a confirmation on June 12, 2013. Creative minds and kooky inventors across Canada can request an application kit via www.redbullflugtag.ca or by phone at 1-877-FLUGTAG (358-4824).

MISSION: NAVIGATION TO SUCCESS
Red Bull Flugtag pushes the envelope of human-powered flight, but competitors need more than hang time to reach the podium. What constitutes a craft is purely up to the imagination of the team - past Red Bull Flugtag crafts include a poutine from Montreal, a zamboni from Vancouver and even a lobster from Moncton.  Overall, teams are judged on three criteria: flight distance, creativity of the craft, and showmanship. A uniquely loony competition, entrants into Red Bull Flugtag will be judged based on the distance their machine flies (how far it flies…if it flies at all!), the creativity of the machine (unusual, head-turning and overall epic crafts), and the team's pre-flight performance (30 seconds on the platform to wow the crowd and the judges). Each team is encouraged to give equal consideration to all criteria to ensure the highest possible points for their team.

While being a hero is its own reward, the three teams that make the biggest impact throughout the day - in other words, the teams whose amazing aircraft and unforgettable performances really blow the judges away - clearly deserve a little something extra. The winning teams and the people's choice award will share a cash prize totalling $13,000.

FLIGHT PLAN
While the sky may be the limit on creativity, there are still a few flight regulations.  First, all flying machines have to be entirely human-powered (no external energy sources or stored power, so forget about the slingshots, catapults or anything besides personal burliness).  Second, no matter what they say, size does matter! All crafts have to be less than 20 feet in length, 28 feet in wingspan, and 10 feet high. Crafts must not exceed 400 lbs total (including the pilot).

ABOUT RED BULL FLUGTAG
Red Bull Flugtag is a competition that dares both the brave and the brainy to design, build, and pilot homemade flying machines in hopes of achieving human-powered flight.  While distance is a major factor, the crafts are also judged on two other criteria - creativity and showmanship - by a panel of celebrity judges.

The first Red Bull Flugtag was held in Vienna in 1992. Since then, more than 80 Red Bull Flugtags have been held around the world, attracting over 300,000 spectators for a single event!  Just this past year, the international flight distance record of 229 feet was set in Mainz, Germany.

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Website: www.redbullflugtag.ca

SOURCE: Red Bull Canada

Please contact: 
Melissa Legaspi 
Edelman 
416-849-3387 
[email protected] 

Josée Laperrière
Red Bull Communications
647-680-2855
[email protected] 

For media in Montreal, please contact:
Catherine Pouliot
Edelman
514-844-6665 ext. 5886
[email protected]