June 23, 2007
Twenty-seven teams from across the U.S. gathered to launch their homemade human-powered flying machines off the end of a 30-foot high ramp at Red Bull Flugtag Nashville. “Flugtag”, which means “Flying Day” in German, often sees its share of nosedives, but on June 23 a majority of the crafts truly got air and kept the crowd cheering until the very end.
EVENT RESULTS
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EVENT RECAP
Kentucky’s Rocky Top Rocket set a new North American record by flying 155 feet at Nashville’s Riverfront Park in front of the largest Red Bull Flugtag crowd ever in the U.S. – over 80,000 spectators. Despite the sweltering temperatures and impending showers, droves came out to witness not only the 30-foot victorious flying banjo soar above the Cumberland River, but an Army tank, a sombrero and even a Rubik’s Cube take to the skies.
“The event was unbelievable,” said Rocky Top Rocket pilot Brandon Vincent. He and brothers Brody and Blake – known as the “Greasy Brothers”, along with teammates Brad Moore and Luke Simmons, were surprised at how far their craft flew: “We never would’ve thought we’d break the North American record.”
Second place went to Baltimore’s Red Bull Flugtag veterans, No. 1 Lucky Flier, and Nashville’s own Lightning 100/Team Green “Yellow Submarine” secured third place with their “Go Green and Stay Clean” attitude. But it was the Galapagos Flight Club who won over the crowd and took home the People’s Choice Award – perhaps having the entire team in spandex turtle costumes helped?
“People’s Choice? That’s ridiculous!” exclaimed Captain Matt Croner, “We tried to put something together with high energy and that the crowd would like…it was such a rush!”