Two Seattle teams will be among 31 teams testing out their homemade, human-powered flying contraptions this Saturday in Portland's Red Bull Flugtag ("Flying Day" in German). The teams plan to launch their inventions off a 25-ft. high flight deck at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, where they'll either soar over or flop into the Willamette River. This year will include the Space Balls van, a pink Viking ship and the Rose City's roller derby team trading in their wheels for wings.
Seattle team "Chinese Take-Out" will attempt to glide a life-sized Chinese take-out box, while "The Bushwackers" will feature a giant flying squirrel. "We were all eating in the parking lot of P.F. Chang's when we realized that we were probably soulmates, or at least meant to be friends - really good Chinese take-out friends," explains Take-out team member Tony Codd about their inspiration. "We are all absolutely nuts, so we thought a massive squirrel would be a good representation just of how nuts we are," said Bushwacker Marc Moberg.
The event drew tens of thousands of spectators four years ago at Portland's Waterfront Park. Watch footage of previous flugtags (takes a while to download). Gates open at 11 a.m. and the first flight launches at 1 p.m. Admission is free.
Homemade flying machines to take flight
Two Seattle teams will be among 31 teams testing out their homemade, human-powered flying contraptions this Saturday in Portland's Red Bull Flugtag ("Flying Day" in German). The teams plan to launch their inventions off a 25-ft. high flight deck at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, where they'll either soar over or flop into the Willamette River. This year will include the Space Balls van, a pink Viking ship and the Rose City's roller derby team trading in their wheels for wings.
Seattle team "Chinese Take-Out" will attempt to glide a life-sized Chinese take-out box, while "The Bushwackers" will feature a giant flying squirrel. "We were all eating in the parking lot of P.F. Chang's when we realized that we were probably soulmates, or at least meant to be friends - really good Chinese take-out friends," explains Take-out team member Tony Codd about their inspiration. "We are all absolutely nuts, so we thought a massive squirrel would be a good representation just of how nuts we are," said Bushwacker Marc Moberg.
The event drew tens of thousands of spectators four years ago at Portland's Waterfront Park. Watch footage of previous flugtags (takes a while to download). Gates open at 11 a.m. and the first flight launches at 1 p.m. Admission is free.
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