Red Bull Flugtag includes Roscoe's flying machine

On Sept. 21, 30 handmade, human-powered aircraft went hurling down a 30-foot collapsable runway over Lake Michigan to compete in the annual Red Bull Flugtag competition.

Teams of five individuals competed to land the first-place prize decided by a panel of judges (including Julio Cesar Castillo of NBC’s The Voice, dirt-bike superstar Corey Bohan and the Chicago Bulls’ Marquis Teague). Factors included not only flight distance but creativity and showmanship.

Which brings us to team Hell on Heels, sponsored by Roscoe’s Tavern and Progress Bar and headed by Captain Brendan Chrisman. To say the least, Hell on Heels came with a sassy attitude and an entirely different approach. Rather than stitched together costumes the team sported flaming-red, knee-high, high-heeled stiletto boots—and had the one and only Frida Lay as mascot.

“Boys don’t know what to make of us, and girls are jealous of how well we walk,” Chrisman commented. But the heels were only part of the show. This year’s aircraft was a glitter-encrusted replica of a high-heeled pump with flames.

The idea of spending five to six months building a human-powered flying machine and attempting to set a flight record may sound quaintly ridiculous in this age but that misses the point. Red Bull Flugtag (prounounced “floo-tahg”) has taken place worldwide for 12 years (“flugtag” translates as “flying day” in German) and has enthralled more than 500,000 people annually. On Sept. 21, simultaneous events took place in Washington D.C., Long Beach, Calif.; Miami; and Dallas/Fort Worth.

Chrisman commented that participating in flugtag events is one of the most addictive in his experience: “It’s not about winning a prize but the camaraderie, teamwork, and experience that make it so appealing.”

Although Chrisman, pilot Eddie Gonzales, and teammates Mario Elian, Dave Sikora and Dave Sineni did not take the top prize, they did nab the “People’s Choice” award.