Video of the Day: Flugtag, Human-Powered Flying Machines

By Devin Holt Fri., Nov. 9 2012 at 8:30 AM

Categories: Art This Weekend, Free Events, General Awesomeness, What in the what?!

Flugtag

Fresh off the heels of its successful campaign to help Felix Baumgartner become the first human to break the sound barrier by falling from the edge of space, Red Bull comes to San Francisco to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Flugtag. Flugtag, which translates as "flying day," encourages D.I.Y. enthusiasts, tinkerers, and the generally adventurous to create homemade flying machines and launch themselves off of a 30-foot ramp.

All flying machines must be entirely human powered, and the competition is judged on distance, creativity, and showmanship. Entrants from a recent Flugtag in Singapore included a giant flying anvil, a model action figure, and a school of fish that collapsed straight into the water, so you can expect a good time even if you stay on dry land. The current distance record of 229 feet was set earlier this year in Germany, but since this Flugtag is right behind AT&T Park, let's hope some of the Giants' mojo rubs off on one of San Francisco's 13 competing teams for a new record -- preferably without anyone falling from space.

Flugtag starts Saturday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. at McCovey Cove, 24 Willie Mays (at Third St.), S.F. Admission is free.

Meet the S.F. teams here. And watch some magic from previous years:

For more events in San Francisco this week and beyond, check out our calendar section. Follow us on Twitter at @ExhibitionistSF and like us on Facebook.