Red Bull Flugtag Returns to Tampa: Sign-Ups Still Open

Participants send their "aircraft" off the edge of a pier during Flugtag, the "Red Bull" flying day competition on October 17, 2003 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Flugtag participants score points for creativity, style, and the distance they manage to "fly" before hitting the water.

Photo by Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images

Tampa Bay is gearing up for one of its most anticipated events: the Red Bull Flugtag returns for the first time in over a decade. On Saturday, November 9, the Tampa waterfront will host this iconic event, attracting thousands of spectators to witness a series of daring and creative flight attempts. Local enthusiasts interested in competing can still sign up, with registration open until September 19.

Ever watched those jaw-dropping videos of human-powered contraptions taking flight and then plunging into the water? Well, get ready for more! Teams will launch their hand-crafted flying machines from a towering 27-foot platform, using nothing but a running start to achieve maximum distance.

Red Bull Flugtag Returns to Tampa

Red Bull Flugtag Tampa Bay will be held at the Tampa Convention Center, located at 333 S Franklin St. The free event was officially announced in June, with Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan present.

Teams of up to five participants will take their turn on the flight deck, performing in front of over 100,000 anticipated spectators. Up to 40 teams will be judged on their craft’s design, the creativity of their pre-flight skit, and the distance of their flight. Prizes include exclusive Red Bull experiences and meet-and-greets with Red Bull athletes. Winners will be selected by a panel of judges, with details to be announced soon.

The Red Bull Flugtag has been held in over 50 countries and has drawn more than nine million spectators worldwide. Notable past winners include Greased Lightning (Portland, 2008), Flight at the Roxbury (Pittsburgh, 2017), and Flite Test (Cincinnati, 2023). The current world record for the longest flight stands at 258 feet, set by The Chicken Whisperers in Long Beach, CA, in 2013.

Red Bull shared some Flutag designs that people are still talking about on YouTube. The comments did not disappoint. One person wrote, One viewer commented, “One thing I love about Flugtag is that some teams don’t even try to build something that flies [laughing emoji] they know they're not going to win, so they have as much fun as they can.” Another said, “Flugtag is one of my all-time favorite things.”

Applications to compete in Tampa’s Red Bull Flugtag are open and those interested can sign up at RedBull.com/redbullflugtagtampa. Registration remains open through September 19.

Be sure to follow @RedBullUSA on Instagram and TikTok to stay updated on everything Red Bull Flugtag Tampa.

Kayla MorganWriter

Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it. She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel. A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community. She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.