FIVE Durbanites are hoping to put their aeronautical skills to the test as they gear up for this weekend’s RedBull Flugtag event in Cape Town.

Flugtag is a competition where teams build and launch homemade crafts off a ramp with the goal of covering a short flight distance rather than plunging into the waters below the ramp.

The competition is judged on three criteria, the distance of the flight, the creativity of the craft’s design, and the performance of the pre-flight skit.

Munya Mtoko, Charleen Naidoo, Mo Sherriff, Subesh Deonarain, and Kaylan Roopraj from Konecta, a contact centre based in Mount Edgecombe, are hoping to have fun, entertain the crowd and achieve a flight distance of 10m.

Their craft, which is being assembled, will be clad in the colours of the company and is made up of various recyclable items, including wood, foam boards, steel piping, and aluminum.

Competing under the team name of Flynecta, they hope their idea takes flight at the V&A Waterfront.

The pilot of the team, Sherriff, gave insight into the make-up of the craft and what he hopes will happen on the day.

“I’ve been on a very strict diet, the team has me living off water,” he joked. “Our job really has been trying to make the craft as lightweight as possible. There isn’t much scope for testing the craft until the day but I have faith we can cover at least 10m on the day.”

One team member who very early on had his portfolio cast in stone was Roopraj, a professional dancer.

“When the project was talked about I knew I could add value from a dance point of view. I’m part of a dance group which does gigs all around the country. We will be walking out to a well-known upbeat song and even though the performance is 30 seconds long, the main thing is to keep the crowd entertained,” he said.

Learning and development manager at the company, Mtoko, said he has faith his team will do well in the challenge.

“I have no doubt, we are there to represent Durban and show off our creativity. The craft itself has two elements, a base with wheels and the flying winged craft, which our pilot must hang onto and hopefully glide a good distance. We have it all planned out, from the dance to pushing the craft, but the best thing is that everyone is involved,”
he said.

The RedBull Flugtag competition takes place on Saturday, November 1.

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