TAMPA, Fla., April 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 8th the outrageous human-powered flying competition known as Red Bull Flugtag will once again soar over the West Coast... of Florida with a return to Tampa Bay.  While Red Bull Flugtag's 2008 stop in Tampa saw its share of Baywatch lifeguards, cartoon characters and various footwear, it's up to the creative public to produce a new set of airborne heroes.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110412/LA81617)

Flugtag, which means "flying day" in German, is the only competition where the creative, brave and often slightly crazy get to pilot homemade flying machines off the end of a 30-foot ramp and into the great wide open – or, as is ultimately the case, the great wide waters below.  Approximately 40 teams of up to five members each will get the chance to prove their chops, shake their feathers and test their engine-free inventions at The Tampa Convention Center.  But time's –a- flyin' so sharpen your pencils and get the creative juices flowing!  All brave souls must apply online at www.redbullflugtagusa.com by July 8, 2011 for consideration in this high flying affair.

15 SECONDS OF FAME AND FLIGHT TIME

Teams will be judged on three criteria: distance, creativity and showmanship.  Distance is measured in flying feet - how far can your craft soar? Creativity, on the other hand, ensures an extraordinary flying day, so save your plane-jane replicas for next year's science project and shift imagination into overdrive. We're looking for the unusual, the head-turning...even the slightly shocking!  Finally, showmanship requires that each team spend one minute on the flight deck strutting their stuff before launching their craft.  So think big, get sketching and show us what you've got!

Since the first Red Bull Flugtag took place in Vienna, Austria, in 1991, more than 80 Flugtags have been held around the globe, attracting up to 300,000 spectators for a single event. Each team will glide, splash or crash into the Seddon Channel at some point and as of last year there's a new distance goal to work towards. The record for the farthest flight-to-date was set at Red Bull Flugtag Twin Cities in 2010 and stands at 207 feet.  

PRE BOARDING ANNOUNCEMENT

While the sky may be the limit on creativity, there are still a few flight regulations.  First off, all flying machines must be entirely human-powered (no external energy sources or stored power, so forget about the slingshots, catapults or anything besides your own burliness.)  Second, no matter what they say, size does matter – all crafts must be less than 30 feet wide and must weigh no more than 450 lbs (including the pilot).

Although originality is key and daredevils are welcome, there are a few rules.  All flying machines must be entirely human-powered (no external energy sources or stored power so forget about the slingshots, catapults or anything besides your own brawn).  Second, all crafts must be less than 30 feet wide.  And finally, no matter what they say, size does matter – all crafts must weigh less than 450 lbs (including the pilot.)    

SOURCE Red Bull