Mark your calendars because Dallas is about to get a little crazier. Red Bull Flugtag, the world-renowned spectacle of homemade, human-powered flight, is making a triumphant return to North Texas for the first time since 2013. On September 13, the skies over Lake Carolyn in Las Colinas will be filled with ambition, ingenuity and a whole lot of whimsy as over 30 teams launch their handcrafted aircraft off a 30-foot ramp in hopes of defying gravity.
For the uninitiated, Flugtag (German for "flying day") challenges teams of five to design, build and pilot their own entirely human-powered, flying machines. The result is a wild and awe-inspiring festival of creativity. From the mechanics needed to strategize a running start off the ramp to the flair required during the thrilling (and inevitable) plunge into the water—this is akin to an adult science fair.
"This isn't your average air show," said a spokesperson. "It's a celebration of sheer audacity. Competitors are judged equally on three criteria: the actual flight distance, the creativity of their aircraft, and their pure showmanship."
Plan your day at Red Bull: FlugTag
The event is free and open to all ages, offering a full day of entertainment beyond the main competition. The Fan Zone opens at 11am with interactive challenges and official merchandise. The action kicks up a notch at 11:45am with a skydiving demonstration by the legendary Red Bull Air Force, who will drop in over Lake Carolyn. The first flying machine will take the leap at 12pm, with the competition and official livestream running until approximately 3:30pm.
Meet the Red Bull: FlugTag competitors
The lineup of competitors is a testament to Texan spirit and creativity. A majority of the 30+ teams hail from the greater Dallas/Fort Worth area, showcasing a cross-section of culture and tradition.
Look for everything from a flying Texas BBQ pit (Charcoal Commanders from Greenville) and a rugby-playing Corpus Christi Crabs to a Cyber Bevo from UT Austin PhD students and a Flying Taco from Dallas’s TACO team. In a truly bold move, The Groomsmen (Dallas) will compete the day before one of their members gets married, launching a "Just Married" getaway car into the lake.
Get ready for some celebrity judges
The fate of these aspiring aviators will be in the hands of a star-studded panel of judges, including pro volleyball superstar Madisen Skinner, former ATP tennis pros John Isner and Steve Johnson, and popular DFW-based content creators Romeo Centeno and Sketch.
After a twelve-year wait, North Texas is ready to once again witness the glorious, gravity-defying spectacle that is Red Bull Flugtag. It’s more than a competition.