CINCINNATI — Teams of daring athletes and imagination inventors will do their best Wright brothers impersonations along the Ohio River this summer as they take to the skies ever so briefly in homemade flying machines.
On Saturday, Aug. 12, Cincinnati will host one of Red Bull’s famed Flugtag events at Sawyer Point Park & Yeatman’s Cove.
What You Need To Know
- On Aug. 12, Cincinnati will host Ohio's first Red Bull Flugtag since 2004
- The day-long event features up to 40 teams building human-powered aircraft to see which can fly the farthest and look the coolest
- Flugtag contests have taken place in more than 50 countries over the past 30 years
Named after the German word for ‘flying day,’ the Flugtag features outlandish airships designed and built by everyday residents specifically for the event. On flight day, the squads of up to five pilots will launch their creations off a 27-foot-tall flight deck constructed in the Ohio River.
Typically, the aircraft — powered only by a push-off, foot pedal and wind — travel no farther than the length of an NFL football field. The world record for the longest flight is 258 feet, set by The Chicken Whisperers in Long Beach, Calif., in 2013.
Most often, though, the winged vehicles take an immediate plunge into the waters below to the delight of fans. Up to 30,000 spectators are expected for the event, according to Red Bull.
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval said the city couldn’t be more excited to welcome a “unique and fun spectacle” to the banks of the Ohio River.
“Red Bull Flugtag offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity for residents and visitors to get together, show off their creativity, and celebrate what makes this community so special. I can’t wait to take part,” he added.
Pureval delivered his remarks Tuesday morning at the riverfront park that will host the event. It will be the first Red Bull Flugtag in Ohio since 2004, and the only one held in the United States this year.
Joining the first-term mayor for the press conference was longtime Red Bull Air Force athlete Jeff Provenzano. Provenzano, who has over 14,000 skydives to his resume, knows the thrills of Flugtag events better than anyone. He’s had several roles in past iterations of the contest, including serving as a judge.
Judges scores the participants — up to 40 teams — based on the creativity of their design, performance, and the distance of their flight. The lineup of celebrity judges hasn’t yet been announced.
“It’s an awesome experience to be flying, and I’m excited for everyone participating in the upcoming Red Bull Flugtag Cincinnati,” Provenzano said in a statement. “It takes guts to step off that ledge whether you’re in a wingsuit or in a Flugtag aircraft, but that freeing feeling that only flying can provide makes it all worth it.”
Red Bull has hosted Flugtag events in more than 50 countries over the past 30 years. Over the years, Flugtag has seen winning crafts such as Snoop’s Dogg House (San Francisco, 2003), Greased Lightning (Portland, Ore., 2008) and Flight at the Roxbury (Pittsburgh, 2017).
The event is open to anyone, whether a person is from Greater Cincinnati or anywhere else in the world. The application has a variety of questions about the team and their design. It asks for the airship’s name, details about the inspiration and why Red Bull should select the applications. It also inquires if the team is representing an organization or raising money for a particular cause.
Those interested in taking part can sign up online. Applications must be in before Sunday, May 21, at 5 p.m. ET.
Teams and more surprises will be announced in the next few months, per Red Bull. The company will share details on its Instagram and TikTok accounts.