Countdown for the 1st Red Bull Flugtag Qatar is On
A Special Platform For The Take-Off
The countdown has started for the 1st Red Bull Flugtag event taking place in Qatar, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Chairperson of Qatar Museums Authority. The event will take place at the Museum of Islamic Art Park (MIA Park), on November 1 where a huge platform is being built for teams to launch their hand-built flying machines into the waters of the Gulf.
This unique event is organized in collaboration with main sponsors Ford, event management agency Innovations Unlimited ME, Qatar Museums Authority and the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) as the host venue, Qatar TV as the official TV partner, and Qatar Tribune and Al Watan as the official print media, in addition to Renaissance Hotel.
Paul Anderson, Ford Middle East’s regional marketing director said: “We are excited to be part of the very first event of this scale taking place in Doha. Red Bull Flugtag is well in line with Ford’s position in pushing the limits and going further in everything we do, especially as we engage with a younger and dynamic audience that Red Bull attracts. We are looking forward to bringing some great activations during Red Bull Flugtag, especially as we support and cheer #TeamFord in their iconic flying machine! So watch this space!”
Red Bull Flugtag is all about flying, a principle that goes back to the 19th century with inventor Abbas Bin Firnas, and that will be experienced in Doha with the most creative aircrafts. Flying normally starts at take-off, however, things are different with Red Bull Flugtag. Each team is required to perform an entertaining 60-second show before its unique take-off and spectacular landing in the water.
The ramp, especially designed and built for the event, will be the centre of the performances during Red Bull Flugtag. At 30m long, 6m high and 6m wide, with safety nets on the sides, the ramp will give ample space for the teams to perform their shows before launching their flying machine with its pilot into the sky of Doha. The game rules state that aircrafts should be exclusively human-powered.
Innovations Unlimited ME, the events company delivering Red Bull Flugtag started the installation of the ramp and the Friends of Red Bull area during the Eid holiday. Visitors to the park were witnessing a rapid build and pilots could already envision their flying paths.
A jury of five will evaluate the teams based on three major factors: creativity of the craft, showmanship and flight distance. Safety standards are also a must, and candidates were required to follow them in the design of their flying machines. Therefore, each machine faces a strict weight restriction of 180kg including the pilot and has to be built with material lighter than water such as wood or plastic instead of metals. Flying machines will are required to have floating devices to prevent sinking, and all team members will be provided with life jackets and helmets.
All teams completed their flying machines as of October 20th and the Red Bull team together with the safety advisor and the wings team are busy doing their final inspection before all 35 machines will be delivered to MIA Park.
“We have initiated the build-up in the park, and the ramp for the flying machines is progressing very well”, said Markus Jordan, Managing Partner of Innovations Unlimited ME, the event organizer and adds, “we are looking forward to seeing the flying machines finally parked at the tarmac. We promise a day filled with fun and action for everyone.
Spectators will be requested to park outside the Museum of Islamic Art Park in the dedicated parking areas for the public (close to the Ministry of Interior, the Qatar Sports Club and the Airport / Airport Road). A free shuttle bus service will be available to drop the public to the event location. No parking will be available at the event area.
Hangars open at 11am and first flight is at 1pm.
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