New World Record Flugtag Flight In The Twin Cities

More than 90,000 people witness Major Trouble and The Dirty Dixies fly their craft 207 feet, breaking the old record of 195 feet set back in 2000. Their flight really pumped the crowd up as the aircraft landed just past a buoy that marked the previous record. From my vantage point, I thought they crashed into the water around the 40 foot mark, but the wings took lift and sailed to victory. The video is worth a look.

Here is the video of their historic flight.

The plane design is based off of one of the eight remaining B-25 Doolittle Raiders named Miss Mitchell. Frequent readers to this blog may recall my posting from May featuring Miss Mitchell, which is housed in the Commemorative Air Force, Minnesota Wing hanger at Flemming Field. I would have to guess, since there is the CAF logo on the plane, they either helped in the design and construction, or they were a sponsor for the project. Then again, there is also a Commemorative Air Force, Dixie Wing division as well, so perhaps they are just fans of the plane?

  

Flugtag 2010 Twin Cities

The RedBull Flugtag 2010 Twin Cities was held this past Saturday. The event coordinator was hoping for 50,000, but the draw of the Flugtag, estimated the crowd by the St Paul Police at 90,000 people. Overall, it was the most unique event I've ever witnessed. 35 teams were selected to make an craft with a theme and perform a short skit, they would then, push their craft off of the 30 foot ramp to see how far they could make it fly. A small number of the crafts managed more than 50 feet including a record setting 207 feet. While most of them, like the one pictured, topped off at 20-35 feet.

The team in today's photo is the 'Band Of Bunyans'. According to their Facebook page, they are all from the Good Ideas Club of UW-Madison. Their theme was Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, local Minnesota folklore. The wings on their aircraft was painted in Maroon and Gold, the University of Minnesota school colors on one side and Red and White, the University of Wisconsin school colors. I believe their craft landed in the 30 foot range.

  

Commemorative Air Force, Minnesota Wing

Yesterdays photos of Miss Mitchel, posted on May 25.....I captured this photo set of one of eight remaining B-25 Bombers from World War II at the Commemorative Air Force Museum in South St Paul airport, Flemming Field. The CAF Museum survives on donations and hanger rentals. They often host other events at the hanger to raise funding to keep the museum open. Last weekend, they held a pancake breakfast open to the public, plus they were giving out 15 minute plane rides. If your looking for a place to host an event in the Twin Cities, they will rent out their hanger as well, quite a unique location.

More info on the CAF Museum can be found at their website: http://www.cafmn.org/
MNCAF blog with a few more photos of Miss Mitchell: http://minnesotawingblog.blogspot.com/

 

B-25 Bomber "Miss Mitchell"

Meet Miss Mitchell, she is a B-25, one of eight remaining Doolittle Raiders. There was 16 B-25 Mitchell Bombers launched from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet on April 18, 1942. The Doolittle Raid was the first air raid by the United States to strike a Japanese home island during World War II. The raid was planned and led by Lieutenant Colonel James "Jimmy" Doolittle.

Miss Mitchell was at the Commemorative Air Force, Minnesota Wing, WWII Air Force Museum at Flemming Field in South St Paul. I just happened to be there at the CAF hanger/museum during a Raider Reunion to capture these photos.

More info on the CAF Museum can be found at their website: http://www.cafmn.org/
MNCAF blog with a few more photos of Miss Mitchell: http://minnesotawingblog.blogspot.com/