Flutag Comes to Doha

Flutag came to Qatar for the first time! Thank you Red Bull!

 

For those of you that do not know what this is, let me fill you in on this fun event.  It is basically a flying competition of home made, human powdered flying objects that adults launch off of a 30 ft. pier into a body of water.  So it is adults building large toys that they hope will fly.  Points are given to the competitors based on originality, design, flight length (which I have to tell you is very little) and the entertainment factor of the flight crew themselves who have to give a preflight skit.

 



This is happens in about 35 cities all over the world but this is the first time in Doha, Qatar.  Lucky for the people of Doha it was the usual perfectly sunny day and the usual Fall temp of 90 degress.

 

The designs were by engineers, pilots, friends and even a group of moms.  Some had sponsors such as VCU in Qatar and many were financed by the individuals themselves.





 

The only problem with this competition is something called Gravity. The phenomenon seemed to occur surprisingly quickly on each of the flying objects.  Most of them went off the pier and downward with no apparent forward movement.  Hilarious!

 

 

After the nanosecond flight a boat picked up the passengers and a crane removed the debris from the water.  Quickly it was time for another ill fated flight.  Clearly none of these people work for the aviation industry.....actually I am just assuming that based on the total lack of uplift noted.

 

 

I ask you, what is not fun about watching adults launch really big models into water? If you ever see it advertised, I will expect you to attend. 

 

Thanks to Red Bull, tens of thousands of people in Doha had an entertaining day and according to my observations, many of them are nursing sunburns tonight. (You should see my scalp!)