Aero-model makers and enthusiasts with a passion for flying will showcase their home-made aircraft in eye-catching and innovative designs this Sunday at the first-ever Flugtag event in the country at the Sankey Tank in Gayathri Nagar.
Flugtag (Floogtag), which means ‘flight day’ in German, involves teams designing their own aircraft and attempting to fly them. They take off from a high deck, usually over a water body.
The first Flugtag competition was held in 1991 in Vienna, Austria. Since then, over 35 cities across the world have hosted the event.
Pilots and engineers from across the country are expected to participate in Sunday’s event. A total of 36 teams have been shortlisted from over 8,000 applications that were received from across the country. A good 24 teams from Namma Bangalore will be competing for the top honours.
Superman Chaddi, Smoke and Fly, Pushpaka, Piggycraft, Flintstoned, Masala Flightosa, Bazinga, The Drunkards, Paper Plate, The Stoned Eagle, Pushpak Viman, Silicon Valley, Jai Sri Ram, Fish, Mayura, Sky Bull, Majestic Beast, Troubled Indian Aunty, Alio Mobile and Beagle Boys are the names of some of the teams.
Preparations are in full swing as teams put the finishing touches to their flying machines. Members of one of the Bangalore teams — The Ego Shark — said they are extremely excited to have a platform like this in the city. “Three of the four members are pursuing a degree in aeronautical engineering. This is a great opportunity for us to put to practical use what we learnt,” said Naveen Raj, who will be flying their home-made craft on Sunday.
Competitors will be judged on three factors: flight distance, the creativity of the aircraft and showmanship, and winners will be picked accordingly.
