Red Bull Flugtag 2006 Makes a Splash Landing in the U.S.

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Have your boarding pass ready because Red Bull Flugtag is set to launch over the waters of Tempe, Ariz., on April 29 and Baltimore, Md. on October 21, 2006. "Flugtag" means "flying day" in German, but more importantly it's American for a bunch of creative geniuses strapping themselves to totally outrageous homemade, human-powered flying machines and launching off a 30-foot ramp into the wild blue yonder, or alternatively, straight into the water. Thirty teams, each consisting of five members, will be selected in each city to turn the fantasy of human-powered flight into reality.

The 2006 U.S. Flugtag flight path takes off from Tempe, Ariz., on April 29 at the Tempe Town Lake. The deadline to apply for Flugtag Arizona is February 17, 2006. Red Bull Flugtag Baltimore launches October 21, 2006, at the city's Inner Harbor. The deadline to apply for Flugtag Baltimore is July 31, 2006. Creative minds and courageous souls can apply online at http://www.redbullflugtagusa.com/.

CAPTAIN'S LOG

The first Red Bull Flugtag took place in Vienna, Austria, in 1991. Since then, more than 35 Flugtags have been held around the world -- from Ireland to San Francisco -- attracting up to 300,000 spectators. The record for the farthest flight-to-date currently stands at 195 feet set in 2000 at Flugtag Austria. The U.S. record stands at 78 feet set in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2004.

Teams are judged on three criteria: distance, creativity and showmanship. What constitutes a craft is purely up to the imagination of the participating teams. Past Red Bull Flugtag entries have included a pregnant cow, a diaper-delivering stork, a pimped-out Cadillac, a giant Oompa Loompa, and yes folks -- a lobster named Larry.

SMOKING IS PROHIBITED IN THE LAVATORIES

While there is no limit on creativity, there are a few rules and regulations. First off, all flying machines must be entirely human-powered (no external energy sources or stored power). Secondly, all crafts must be less than 30 feet wide. And finally, no matter what they say, size does matter -- all crafts must weigh no more than 450 lbs (including the pilot).

Play by the rules and the payoff could be sweet. The first place prize is a pilot's training course (cash value $7,500). The second prize is skydiving lessons (cash value $3,000) and third prize is paragliding lessons (cash value $1,500). So bust out those sketch pads and super glue, and find out just how far your creativity can take you.

For more information, including applications, photos, and video footage from past Red Bull Flugtag events, visit http://www.redbullflugtagusa.com/. For media inquiries about Flugtag Arizona, please contact Nyla Wilkins at (310) 460-5154 or via email at nyla.wilkins@us.redbull.com. For media inquires about Flugtag Baltimore, contact Ellie Applen at (310) 460-4532 or ellen.applen@us.redbull.com.