Two UA teams are set to compete in the Red Bull Flugtag Arizona competition in Tempe later this month and hope to represent the UA in enemy territory.
Created in 1991, the Flugtag (floog-tawg) is German for “”flying day”” and gives teams of up to five people the opportunity to build homemade, human-powered flying crafts that are piloted through the air and into the water.
This year the event will take place April 29 at Tempe Town Lake.
Prizes are awarded based on the distance of the flight, the creativity of the craft and the showmanship of the team – something the two UA teams are taking seriously.
The teams, Flight of the Pac-Manð and Chariot to Hell, are both expecting to put on a good show and entertain the crowd with their unique and comical flying crafts.
“”It’s all about having fun,”” said Taylor Bednarik, a business administration senior and team captain of Flight of the Pac-Man.
Bednarik’s team consists of pilot Gary Ebersbach, Denny Armstrong, Erik Bakke and Clay Carroll, all members of Sigma Pi.
The pilot will be dressed as Pac-Man and will be chased along the flight deck by the other team members dressed as the ghosts from the game – Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde.
Pac-Man will then latch onto a giant cherry and launch into Tempe Town Lake.
“”The leaves of the cherry will act as wings,”” Bednarik said. “”It’s probably the most creative plane you’re ever going to see.””
After meeting a Red Bull representative at a party, Bednarik’s interest in Flugtag was sparked when he saw videos of past competitions.
“”Jokingly we said, ‘we should do this,'”” Bednarik said. “”Then we were like ‘we should really do this.'””
Bednarik saw a Pac-Man video online and began sketching the characters for the application. More than 200 teams from around the country applied for the chance to compete, and Bednarik’s was one of the 31 selected.
Inspired by a low-cost theme, Flight of the Pac-Man used cardboard and PVC pipe to create the characters.
“”Being college kids, we don’t have a lot of time or money to spend on it,”” Bednarik said. “”We didn’t even spend $100.””
Keeping the humor alive in the Flugtag event, the Chariot to Hell team plans to “”stick it”” to ASU with its flying craft.
The team consists of Arizona Allegiance members Nate Schwandt, Nattie Anderson, Devin Sreecharana, David McMullan and Kelsey Hawes – all motivated by their dislike for ASU.
“”We hate ASU,”” said Anderson, a pre-communication junior. “”I wanted to do something to show ASU what we think of them.””
The team will dress in UA-inspired togas and charge the chariot piloted by none other than ASU’s beloved mascot “”Sparky.””
Anderson said she hopes the chariot will get some distance, but she won’t mind seeing “”Sparky”” plummet into the water either.
The Arizona Allegiance was informed of the competition and quickly decided to apply. With the deadline for applications approaching, Anderson came up with the idea last-minute, drew up the plans and sent them in.
Chariot to Hell will be watched closely by ASU’s anti-Wildcat craft Fork ‘Um!!, which will consist of a pitchfork “”stickin’ it”” to Wilbur.
Winners of the competition receive a variety of prizes. The grand prize is a pilot’s training course or the cash equivalent of $7,500. Second prize is skydiving lessons or the cash equivalent of $3,000, and third place receives paragliding lessons or the cash equivalent of $1,500. Other awards are people’s choice and most creative craft.
