Event Participants compete at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024.
About 30 teams competed to see whose crafts could travel furthest before crashing into the water.
One by one, teams of individuals with dreams of flying took a leap of faith as they piloted their homemade aircraft off a 27-foot platform over Hillsborough River. Red Bull Flugtag 2024 was in full flight Saturday, revisiting Tampa for the first time in 13 years.
Thirty-two teams, made up of 28 competitors and four honorary flights, each made their own aircraft for the competition hosted at the Tampa Bay Convention Center.
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Event Participants compete at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100065 // Usage for editorial use only //
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2 of 45 — Spartan Sisters
Participants perform during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. // Robert Snow / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411090315 // Usage for editorial use only //
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3 of 45 — Red Bull Flugtag 2024 Tampa, Florida, United States
Participant at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Keyona Keeven / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100020 // Usage for editorial use only //
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4 of 45 — Spartan Sisters
Participants perform during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. // Robert Snow / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411090311 // Usage for editorial use only //
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Event Participants compete at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100056 // Usage for editorial use only //
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6 of 45 — Fantastic Flying Legends of Wrestling
Fantastic Flying Legends of Wrestling at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Mike Hunnisett / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100067 // Usage for editorial use only //
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7 of 45 — Event Participants
Event Participants compete at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100069 // Usage for editorial use only //
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8 of 45 — Fantastic Flying Legends of Wrestling
The Fantastic Flying Legends of Wrestling at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Mike Hunnisett / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100053 // Usage for editorial use only //
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9 of 45 — Event Participants
Event Participants compete at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100050 // Usage for editorial use only //
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10 of 45 — Event Participants
Event Participants compete at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100040 // Usage for editorial use only //
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11 of 45 — Dance Haus Dads
The Dance Haus Dads at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Mike Hunnisett / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100054 // Usage for editorial use only //
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12 of 45 — Event Participants
Event Participants compete at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100061 // Usage for editorial use only //
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13 of 45 — Participants
Participants at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Mike Hunnisett / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100052 // Usage for editorial use only //
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14 of 45 — Red Bull Flugtag 2024 Tampa, Florida, United States
Yeager Bomb sendind off at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Keyona Keeven / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100021 // Usage for editorial use only //
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15 of 45 — Event Participants
Event Participants compete at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100028 // Usage for editorial use only //
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16 of 45 — Event Participants
Event Participants compete at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100066 // Usage for editorial use only //
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17 of 45 — Red Bull Flugtag 2024 Tampa, Florida, United States
Atsmophere at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Keyona Keeven / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100019 // Usage for editorial use only //
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18 of 45 — Event Participants
Event Participants compete at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100047 // Usage for editorial use only //
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19 of 45 — Spartan Sisters
Participants perform during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. // Robert Snow / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411090313 // Usage for editorial use only //
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20 of 45 — Spartan Sisters
Participants perform during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. // Robert Snow / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411090309 // Usage for editorial use only //
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21 of 45 — Event Participants
Event Participants compete at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100046 // Usage for editorial use only //
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22 of 45 — Event Participants
Event Participants compete at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100044 // Usage for editorial use only //
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23 of 45 — Benoist Brawlers
Benoist Brawlers at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Mike Hunnisett / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100068 // Usage for editorial use only //
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24 of 45 — Event Participants
Event Participants compete at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100041 // Usage for editorial use only //
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25 of 45 — Event Participants
Event Participants compete at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100042 // Usage for editorial use only //
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26 of 45 — Event Participants
Event Participants celebrate at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100030 // Usage for editorial use only //
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27 of 45 — Spartan Sisters
Participants perform during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. // Robert Snow / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411090310 // Usage for editorial use only //
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28 of 45 — Spartan Sisters
Participants perform during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. // Robert Snow / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411090314 // Usage for editorial use only //
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29 of 45 — Event Participants
Event Participants compete at Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida, USA on November 9, 2024. // Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411100064 // Usage for editorial use only //
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Thousands of people pack the Tampa Convention Center during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. Octavio Jones for WUSF
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While in the hangar, members of the A Basic Beach the Tampa Bay Lightning mascot Thunderbug takes photos during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. Octavio Jones for WUSF
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While in the hangar, members of the Spartan Sisters takes photos during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. Octavio Jones for WUSF
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Josh Schlotmann and his Bjorn takes a photo with members of the Joog Squad Jack Tenney, and Casey Mauk during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. Octavio Jones for WUSF
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Members of the Yeager Flugtag team directs traffic in the hangar during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. Octavio Jones for WUSF
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Thousands of people pack the Tampa Convention Center during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. Octavio Jones for WUSF
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Thousands of people pack the Tampa Convention Center during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. Octavio Jones for WUSF
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during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. Octavio Jones for WUSF
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Boaters gather on the Hillsborough River during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. Octavio Jones for WUSF
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Red Bull Air Force parachutes into the Red Bull Flugtag in during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. Octavio Jones for WUSF
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Members of the Hard Rock Seminole Flugtag team takes flight during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. Octavio Jones for WUSF
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Members of the Polk County Hillbillies Flugtag team takes flight during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. Octavio Jones for WUSF
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Members of the Coconut Pirates Flugtag team takes flight during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. Octavio Jones for WUSF
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Members of the Yeager Bomb Flugtag team takes flight during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. Octavio Jones for WUSF
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Members of the RaceTrac Flugtag team takes flight during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. Octavio Jones for WUSF
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Jeff Caudill, a member of the Polk County Hillbillies Flugtag team wears his custom made hat while in the hangar during the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, Florida on November 9, 2024. Octavio Jones for WUSF
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From turkey legs to skillet pans, the aircrafts took all shapes and sizes. One team took on the shape of a car – Lightning McQueen, specifically.
A team of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University students designed a car with a glider on top to sail across the river. Vansh Varak, a team member of the “Flightless Eagles,” said the design was inspired by Daytona culture.
Maria Avlonitis
Team "Flightless Eagles" was built by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Students and inspired by the Daytona Speedway.
“Our school happens to be right next to the Daytona Speedway,” he said. “So we get to visit the NASCAR races and honestly, we can hear the races from our dorms.”
This is the team’s first time competing, and they put a lot of work into building their glider in hopes of contradicting their team’s name.
“We just wanted to perform as well as how much effort we put in,” Vansh said.
Hannah Cortelli, the pilot of “Changes in Altitude” said the team of family members decided to compete because it was a “bucket list kind of thing,” she said.
Maria Avlonitis
Hannah Cortelli, the pilot of “Changes in Altitude” said the team decided to compete because it was a “bucket list kind of thing."
“This will be our fun fact for the rest of our lives,” Cortelli said.
The Tampa Bay locals had to overcome obstacles to create their aircraft inspired by Jimmy Buffett.
“This was used to board up our house to keep it sealed,” team member Staci Johnson said, pointing to the wings of the aircraft. Hurricanes Helene and Milton disrupted the team's timeline for building it, but they were able to pull off the finished product before the big day.
“It was a journey,” Johnson said. “We don't have a background in building this stuff, you know, so to make something that we're extremely proud of, like, that was a huge accomplishment.”
Other teams were also impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton, such as College HUNKS Hauling Junk and Moving, a Tampa-based moving and junk removal company.
Maria Avlonitis
The aircraft of Team College HUNKS Hauling Junk and Moving was made almost entirely out of hurricane debris.
Co-founders Nick Friedman and Omar Soliman both were impacted by flooding from the storms, but they jumped to help their communities when the mayor of Tampa contacted them to help with the cleanup process.
“I think the Tampa community needs a good energy lift coming out of the hurricanes,” Friedman said.
The team’s aircraft, “HUNK of Flyin’ Junk,” was made almost entirely out of hurricane debris, Friedman said.
Roman Cowan, the brand president of the company, is proud to have been able to turn the destruction of the hurricanes into something good and uplifting.
“That's been an emotional drain, but events like this can help you lift up from those types of terrible moments,” he said.
Audiences had the chance to look at and take pictures of the teams’ aircraft before the competition. When the first flight took off at 1 p.m. all eyes were on the giant blue platform the teams would be launching from.
Gabriel Hernandez, a Lakeland resident, was excited to see the action.
“I've been looking at this for months,” he said, “and it seemed like a fun, free thing to do.”
He hoped to see some aircraft travel far across the river, and he was looking forward to seeing any disastrous flights.
Eloy Amaya Avila, a Tampa local, came to see “what was the whole hype about,” he said.
He hoped to see some aircraft travel far, but there was one thing he was most excited about.
“I just want to get some free Red Bull,” Amaya Avila said.
Tens of thousands of people found seats along the Tampa Riverwalk, trying to catch a glimpse of the flights. Hundreds of boats, kayaks and paddleboards crowded the Seddon Channel basin where the competitors were jumping.
There was a panel of five judges; Andrei Vasilevskiy, goaltender for the Tampa Bay Lightning; Derrick Brooks, Hall of Fame Tampa Bay Buccaneer; Meagan Ethell, pro wakeboarder and Red Bull athlete; Turner “Tfue” Tenney, global e-sport player and streamer; and Twan Kuyper, actor and social media star.
They scored each team based on the team’s showmanship, creativity of their aircraft design and how far they launched off the platform.
Maria Avlonitis
Team "Flug Shag" won with their Austin Powers-inspired aircraft, which traveled 51 feet.
Team “Flug Shag” from Orlando, Fl, came in first. They had an Austin Powers-inspired aircraft, and they achieved a distance of 51 feet.
They won a 2025 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix experience as their grand prize.
JoogSquad from Indian Rocks Beach won the People’s Choice, presented by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
