Flugtag!

TAMPA, FL (Nov. 9, 2024) – Anyone who has ever flown into Tampa or visited there knows that the airspace there can be a pretty busy place. On Saturday, the “airspace” was even busier than usual at just 25 feet over Tampa’s Hillsborough River. The air was filled with creativity and daring as the Red Bull Flugtag event returned to the city for the first time since 2011.

Held at the Tampa Convention Center, the event featured 32 teams from various locations, including Tampa, St. Petersburg, South Carolina, and Utah, each launching their wacky homemade, human-powered flying machines off a 27-foot platform into the bay.

What’s a Flugtag?

Red Bull Flugtag, which translates to “flying day” in German, challenges teams to design and pilot their own aircraft, emphasizing creativity, showmanship, and flight distance. The Tampa event attracted thousands of spectators who lined the Riverwalk to witness the spectacle. Participants were judged on three main criteria: the creativity and design of their craft, the performance of their pre-flight skit, and the total distance their aircraft traveled. Think about every “wacky air racer” movie and cartoon you ever saw, double the amount of hilarity, and you have Flugtag.

Competition Highlights

Over the course of three hours Saturday, teams showcased a variety of themes and designs, resulting in both impressive flights and entertaining plunges into the water. Every kind of “aircraft” you can imagine was in the competition, from a flying hay bale to a sleek canard design plane created by a bunch of jet pilots.

And then there were the “flight crews”. Ground crews dressed as everything form parrots to Samurais all worked with their team pilots to earn a spot as a top finisher. The standout flight performance came from Team Flug Shag of Orlando, Florida, who clinched first place with a flight distance of 51 feet. Their Austin Powers-inspired craft and costumes entertained both the judges and the audience. “We put a lot of hard work in, in a short amount of time, and I think it paid off,” said Matthew Winch, a member of Team Flug Shag.

Award Winners

Winners of the 2024 Red Bull Flugtag:

• First Place: Flug Shag from Orlando, FL (51 feet)
• Second Place: Jet ICU from Tampa, FL (48 feet)
• Third Place: Flying Spartans from Tampa, FL (45 feet)
• People’s Choice Award: JoogSquad from Indian Rocks, FL

As part of their victory, Team Flug Shag received what was described by officials as “an experience” at the 2025 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.

Judging Panel

The event’s judging panel featured notable figures from Florida’s sports and entertainment sectors:

• Andrei Vasilevskiy: Goaltender for the Tampa Bay Lightning
• Derrick Brooks: Hall of Fame Tampa Bay Buccaneer
• Meagan Ethell: Professional wakeboarder and Red Bull athlete
• Turner “Tfue” Tenney: Global e-sports player and streamer
• Twan Kuyper: Actor and social media star

Meagan Ethell expressed her admiration for the participants, stating, “This was one for the books! It was such an honor to represent the ladies alongside such an epic group of judges. All the teams put so much effort into their crafts. What impressed me the most was when a team didn’t just build a craft that could go the distance, but also went all out with their costumes and skit—especially when the skit matched well with the name.”

Community Impact

The return of Red Bull Flugtag to Tampa not only provided entertainment but also had a significant economic impact on the city. With up to 80,000 in attendance, the event was expected to generate approximately $3.4 million for the local economy. The influx of visitors and participants highlighted Tampa’s appeal as a host city for large-scale events.

Looking Ahead

The 2024 Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa showcased the ingenuity and adventurous spirit of its participants. As the homemade aircraft “soared” a ever so briefly before plummeting into the bay, the event provided a day of excitement for participants and the audience alike. Bob Taylor, who was in town for a tattoo show at the Convention Center said ” I had no idea this was going on today. I can’t believe I lucked out and got to see it. I definitely want to catch it again next year.

Bob may have to travel a bit more, as the 2025 Flugtag is scheduled for Los Angeles next July. With the success of this year’s event, there is no doubt that Tampa will be in the running to host future Red Bull Flugtag competitions.

For more information on Red Bull Flugtag and future events, visit Red Bull’s official website.