RECAP: Wings of Wonder – 43 Teams Made History at Red Bull Flugtag this November

After a 13-year hiatus, Red Bull Flugtag crash-landed back into Cape Town this past weekend as 43 brave (some might say delusional) teams launched themselves from Jetty 1 at the V&A Waterfront, armed with nothing but home-made flying machines, questionable physics, and the kind of confidence that can only come from months of saying, “Yeah, this’ll totally work.”

RED BULL FLUGTAG RECAP 1 — Photo By Michael Attfield

An Epic Spectacle of Engineering and Fun

What the day lacked in sustained flight, it made up for in sheer spectacle, creativity, and the delightful South African ability to turn disaster into entertainment.

From townships to boardrooms, university labs to family garages, the Rainbow Nation showed up with contraptions that ranged from “impressively engineered” to “definitely built on the morning of the event.”

Hosts Mpho Popps and Siv Ngesi kept the crowd entertained with their comedic banter, while the teams offered some entertaining choreography before jetting off the ramp. Red Bull athlete and aerobatic champion Patrick Davidson showcased his skills and has everyone looking up into the sky in awe. The Safair Red Bull Flugtag branded plane was another special treat for the crowd as it did a loop over the V&A Waterfront during the competition.

RED BULL FLUGTAG RECAP 2 — Photo By Michael Attfield

And the Winner Is…

The 43 daring teams threw themselves off a nine-meter platform, hoping to impress the panel of judges, which included B-girl Courtnaé Paul, Red Bull athlete and spinner Sam Sam, Ling Ling, Okay Wasabi and Red Bull athlete and hockey player Tati Zulu, who scored them according to the distance, creativity and sportsmanship.

The winning team, Thunderstruck, soared an impressive 19 meters before meeting their inevitable splashdown, a fitting end to a day where countless dreams of flight took temporary lift-off before being dunked into the water below. Every participant got wet, no one walked away with regrets, and the crowd was left exhilarated by the fearless spirit on display.

Thunderstruck pilot Scott Ternant said: “Two of our team members took part in the 2012 Red Bull Flugtag, and we had such a blast that we knew we had to come back, this time with a bigger team. We really wanted to be part of the action again. Winning the event feels incredible, Red Bull is such an iconic global brand, and it’s truly amazing to come out on top.”

RED BULL FLUGTAG RECAP 3 — Photo By Michael Attfield

All About Red Bull Flugtag

Red Bull Flugtag first took flight in 1992 in Vienna, Austria, when fearless pioneers launched homemade flying machines powered by nothing more than cardboard, creativity, and courage. Since then, it’s thrilled more than a million fans across 50 nations, including 220 000 people in Cape Town back in December 2012. Now, the spectacle is returning to South Africa with 50 teams ready to showcase a uniquely local blend of imagination and humour.

This year’s entrants reflect the full spectrum of South African life, from townships and family kitchens to universities and corporate towers. Cape Town’s The Extras, a family crew from Mitchell’s Plain, are bringing personality and flair with their mantra: “If it looks aerodynamic, it probably isn’t—but it’ll look cool going down!” Meanwhile, the Koppie Kopters, a Gauteng web development team with members from South Africa, Kenya, and Canada, promise more spectacle than distance, while Team FlySafair’s group of young aviation engineers aim to turn their professional skills into record-breaking success. Finally, Fourways’ Wing Nuts, veterans from the 2012 Flugtag, are back after 13 years, determined to claim redemption and perhaps even a world record.

Even the team names tell stories of culture, humour, and heritage. Air Wors and Wors Case Scenario celebrate boerewors, Bunny Chowers nods to Durban’s favourite dish, Hakuna Matuktuk fuses Disney charm with local transport, and Rassies Dassies blends rugby culture with wildlife.

RED BULL FLUGTAG RECAP 4 — Photo By Michael Attfield

More than just a competition, Red Bull Flugtag 2025 was a celebration of South African ingenuity and community spirit. With teams aiming to break records, inspire laughter, and bring unforgettable stories to life, this year’s event promises a feast of creativity that will capture the imagination of fans across the nation.