Tempe, Arizona
April 29, 2006
Tempe Town Lake

What were we thinking? This event was held in Tempe, Arizona and how would we transport our large entry more than 2,000 miles.

Construction of our entry started as soon as our application was accepted. Luckily, Cleveland experienced a mild winter without the normal snow accumulation as years prior. It would have been difficult to construct our entry and gather materials with a foot of snow and ice on the ground. Building an entry on paper is simple but try actually constructing your idea. The biggest challenge was creating the project to allow it to be easily assembled without spending hours rigging: cables, wires, or strings. Designing a wingspan stretching 26 feet and able to support itself was another huge obstacle. The fuselage was constructed of sheet metal and the wings were constructed of Styrofoam wrapped with vinyl tape. The weight of our contraption could have been reduced but this knowledge can be used for a future project. The fuselage could have been constructed lighter and smaller using less support. The vinyl tape wrapping the wings could have also been eliminated since the tape is heavy but it helped ensure our project was colorful. Next time, spray paint can be applied instead of vinyl tape to add color and it’s cheaper.

The Tempe journey started one week prior to the start of the event and many adventures waited. I was unable to travel with the team since I was attending college and couldn’t afford to sacrifice my education. I arrived in Tempe two days before the event by airplane and snagged a cab to the campground where the rest of the team was spending the night. I was told many stories about the road trip while at the campground and missed all the highlights: practically freezing to death in Denver, being removed from local bars, drinking liquor to stay warm, and various other stories. These stories were entertaining, but from this point and beyond, I was trapped in this road trip and whatever adventures were to come.

I should have packed warmer clothing because it was chilly in the desert. I was unaware of my surroundings since it was night when I arrived but I was aware this was Indian country. One needs to be weary since the Indians govern themselves and operate under Indian law. Being a while male in an Indian jail could be an unpleasant experience. It’s slightly intimidating drinking at a bar and reading the graffiti while trying to dispose of some firewater in the restroom. Usually one has a chuckle reading the silly graffiti but not when it reads: kill whitey, scalp the white man, Indian Power, and etc. I suppose the graffiti might entertain a fellow Indian but we are Caucasian. If I remember history correctly, didn’t the white man pay for Indian scalps and steal valuable Indian land and relocate these people to live in the desert. Can one blame this society’s hatred towards the white man?

It’s 5AM and the sun is beginning to rise in the desert. Huge cacti stand proudly in the vast desert and some of these cacti have to easily be older than one hundred years. Signs of life also begin to appear and birds can be heard singing. Not all birds appear to be capable of flying and can be seen running back and forth among the sand. These birds possibly can’t be roadrunners but maybe another species since they are small but fast and impossible to catch. It’s time to break camp and navigate the remaining forty miles towards Tempe. Some quality food would be great since the dinner the night before was unfulfilling and breakfast always helps cure a hang-over. The dinner last night was a true hobo meal; mix whatever food one has into a large pot and stir it altogether. It’s hit or miss with this recipe since the brew tastes different every time. Lastly, add some pepper and salt to the mix and chase it down with a few drinks.

It’s Tempe time! The trip was a success and nobody died on the road trip. The Red bull launching ramp could be seen while passing over the bridge. How strange! Tempe Town Lake is a large manmade lake (pool) constructed of concrete. Makes sense because it would be impossible for a natural lake to exist in the desert since the water would absorb into the ground. Tempe Town Lake is fairly large but the stagnant water produced a foul smell.

We proceeded to unload our craft from the crate and assembled it as practiced. Our entry was huge compared to other teams but this is how we roll, “Larger than life”. It was off to the hotel and time to unwind before the pre-meeting and social mixer later this night. The meeting enclosed final details and what to expect the day of the event. We returned to the hotel after the meeting to prepare for the next day. Preparation consisted of drinking heavy doses of alcohol and shots to clear the mind.

It was time to compete and we were ready to spring into action. Luckily, we were one of the first teams to launch because the temperature was rising quickly. The hot weather was refreshing but was harmful to many of the other crafts. Some of the entries were melting under the desert sun and water needed to be applied to slow the process.

Our team was named “Science of Einstein”, a spoof of “Revenge of the Nerds”. Our entry made it successfully into the water with no disasters and the pilot was uninjured. Flugtag was a great learning experience for future projects.

What a fantastic after party: Red bull knows how to host a party. The party was popping inside a club located inside of the hotel and also included a swimming pool. One dj was spinning music outside under the stars and another dj was mixing inside of the club. The party had ended early due to fights so we decided to beeline back to our hotel room to finish partying. A couple of us ventured to the local gas station to purchase alcohol and also managed to snag some free smokes. Marlboro had a representative giving away free cigarettes for a promotion.

We had a great time and an opportunity to visit Tempe to compete at the Red bull Flugtag. Thanks to Red bull, the city of Tempe, and various other sponsors for hosting this unique event.

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