Get ready for some high-flying (and often hilariously failing) action! Red Bull Flugtag made a triumphant return to Cape Town's V&A Waterfront this past Saturday, marking its first appearance since 2012. Crowds gathered to witness teams launch their homemade, human-powered flying machines off a ramp and into the icy waters below.
The event showcased incredible creativity and engineering ingenuity (or lack thereof!), with teams pulling out all the stops to impress the judges. The competition was judged on three key criteria: the creativity of the design, the distance achieved during flight, and the team’s overall performance, including a pre-flight skit.
Around 50 teams participated, representing a diverse range of groups from friends to corporate teams. One such team, Flynecta from Durban, consisting of Subesh Deonarain, Charleen Naidoo, Munya Mtoko, Mo Sherriff and Kaylan Roopraj, hoped to entertain the crowd with their unique design and performance. Their craft, built from recyclable materials and clad in their company's colours, aimed to achieve a flight distance of at least 10 meters.
"Our job really has been trying to make the craft as lightweight as possible," joked pilot Mo Sherriff. Roopraj, a professional dancer, choreographed a high-energy pre-flight skit to further impress the judges and engage the audience.
While some crafts soared, others took a more immediate plunge, providing plenty of laughs and unforgettable moments for spectators. Red Bull Flugtag is a celebration of creativity, teamwork, and the sheer joy of attempting the impossible. Hopefully, it won't be another decade before it returns to Cape Town!
Highlights of the Day:
- Spectacular crashes and unexpected landings.
- Incredible displays of creativity and engineering.
- High-energy performances from participating teams.
- A fun-filled atmosphere for spectators of all ages.