SOURCE: Red Bull

 

SANTA MONICA, CA--(Marketwire - April 13, 2009) - When it comes down to any college, "paper airplanes" and "finals" just don't go together, until now. Except this time, students aren't just flying paper airplanes, paper airplanes are flying the students... all the way to Salzburg, Austria! Participants tested their paper airplane skills last month when Red Bull Paper Wings visited hundreds of college campuses around the globe keeping tabs of the best paper airplanes in three categories: farthest flight, longest airtime and flight aerobatics. Out of the 128 "qualiflyers" in the United States, 14 students threw a paper airplane that is now flying them to Hangar-7 in Salzburg, Austria for the Red Bull Paper Wings World Finals May 1-2.

PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING:

300 students overall from over 80 countries are headed to destination Salzburg to compete in the Red Bull Paper Wings Finals in one of the most impressive hangars in the world, Hangar-7 in Austria. They have already reviewed the rules of the aircraft set by the Paper Aircraft Association (PAA) and are ready for take-off. No need to tamper with electronic devices on this flight experience because they've already reached a remarkable cruising, creative altitude. All that's on their carry-on is an 8 1/2'x11' idea and paper airplane skills.

Other passengers on the flight include a representative from the Guinness Book of World Records should anyone approach the current paper airplane records: 190 feet for distance and 27.6 seconds for airtime. Hangar-7 will be the layover destination for three first-class winners who will get to depart their next flight over Europe in a one-of-a-kind Alpha Jet fully equipped with an exclusive once-in-a-lifetime experience. We hope everyone has enjoyed flying with Red Bull Paper Wings.

DESTINATION HANGAR-7, AUSTRIA:

Hangar-7 at Salzburg Airport is an architectural masterpiece weaving together form and function. Functionally, the hangar holds 16 Flying Bulls aircrafts (historical aircrafts including such gems as the T28 and DC-6), the award-winning restaurant Ikarus, and a slew of world-renowned art exhibitions including the Photographic Collection of the Wright Brothers. Where form is concerned, Hangar-7 is made of over 1200 tons of steel, 380 tons of glass, and resembles a wing from the outside. May 1-2, it will house aircrafts of a different kind -- paper ones!

US QUALIFLYER WINNERS HEADED TO SALZBURG, AUSTRIA:

DISTANCE
-------------
SCHOOL         QUALIFLYER      DISTANCE (ft.)
Berkeley       Alex Cheng      150.0
Southern Poly  Keaton Wheeler  150.0
CU Boulder     Mike Opland     118.7
New York
University     Kevin Maghami   117.2
Michigan State
University     Eric Mitchell   102.8

AEROBATICS
--------------
SCHOOL         QUALIFLYER      AEROBATIC POINTS
Yale           Jack Hart       100.0
Colorado State
University     Daniel Gearhart 96.0
UC Davis       Ryan Naccarato  95.0
University of
Tampa          Landon Chesney  79.3

AIRTIME
-------------
SCHOOL         QUALIFLYER      AIRTIME (Sec.)
Boston
University     Andy Jalali     13.2
Michigan State
University     Jeremy Mitchell 10.2
Oregon State
University     Tristan Henry   10.0
UT El Paso     Jose Fernando
               Flores           9.0
Southern Poly  Nathan Melton    7.0

For more information, visit www.redbullpaperwings.com

For Media Inquiries or requests for photos, video, etc. contact Kelli Shives at kelli.shives@us.redbull.com or 310.460.5194.