WIRED Staff
Culture

Slideshow: Flight of the Bumblers

The world's weirdest flying contest lands in Portland this week -- hard. Flugtag participants try to "fly" their creations over the Willamette River, and an X-Wing knockoff takes the prize after 39 feet. By Michelle Delio.
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Pilot Garth Parker of Hair Force One offered this advice for future Flugtag pilots: "Wear a cup, dudes."

See related story: Flight of the Bumblers

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highly questionable

'80s haircut), complete with attached aviator sunglasses and bushy moustache.
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The 94.7 FM Alternative Portland entry.
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Monty Python and the Holy Grail

, where King Arthur and a sentinel debate whether a swallow could carry a coconut.
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The X-Wing glider soared for 39 feet before touching down on the Willamette River.
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Pigasus was created by five graduates of Oregon's South Salem High School.
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Flugtag Portland was held at the scenic Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
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Wing Man team members built a 45-foot inclined ramp with a track system, which they placed on the flight deck. At takeoff time, four team members jumped off the flight deck and plunged 30 feet into the Willamette River below. Ropes attached to these brave souls pulled a giant Red Bull can carrying team captain David Uyehara down the track and up the incline, where a hinge flung Uyehara over the water like, as the team described it, a well-flicked spitball.
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The X-Wing team celebrates its Flugtag Portland win.