Full PALFINGER power at the Red Bull Flugtag 2021
The Red Bull Flugtag in Vienna was truly an action-packed event. Around 40 teams from all over Austria took on the challenge of competing with a variety of creative flying machines. Right in the middle of all the action: the official PALFINGER crew. In the flying shark including crane attachment, pilot Lukas Robl was pushed off the six-metre ramp and went flying into the ice-cold water. The PALFINGER crew watched the spectacle from the pier. But before the shark took to the skies, they got the audience and the jury ready for take-off with an impressive performance.
What was pilot Lukas thinking during take-off? "I hoped that I would be able to land the shark in as much of a controlled manner as possible." No sooner said than done: The shark landed upside down but safely on the water. And the ratings were impressive as well: In the end, the PALFINGER team, Fish and Jibs, won 14th place. By the way, the crew members are more than satisfied with their performance.
The effort was worth it
"We did a good job, and our efforts certainly don't pale in comparison to those of the competition. But in the end, it was all about building a cool flying machine, pushing it off the ramp, and having fun!"
And anyone who has read the latest articles in our Flight Magazine and the profiles of our crew members knows there were lots of fun moments to look back on.
PALFINGER products on site: fantastic views and plenty of entertainment
The weather on the day of the event couldn't have been better: bright sunshine and hardly any clouds in the sky. What’s more, the PALFINGER access platform provided select guests with a fantastic bird’s eye view of the performances: It lifted its passengers safely up to 30 metres from where they could see the entire event location at Brigittenauer Bucht. Our truck-mounted forklift ensured entertaining moments between performances.
PK 18502 SH loader crane including eDrive
The PK 18502 SH electric loader crane was constantly in the spotlight during the event. Thanks to its reach of 25 metres and a lifting capacity of 17.1 tonne-metres, it brought the flying machines safely back to shore.
PALFINGER crew: right in the middle of all the action
While the four PALFINGER MARINE experts normally do important work in the fields of design and calculations for cranes, this time they were right there on site. They were able to see first-hand how their unique design, the flying shark, performed. What’s more: The PALFINGER crew not only enjoyed the Red Bull Flugtag itself but also the different stages of the construction process – from brainstorming ideas to the completion of the flying machine. Among their personal highlights:
- attaching the wings to the shark,
- the dance rehearsals and
- the design of the shark
Ultimately, however, it was the many small, special moments that made the project an experience that all crew members will remember for a long time to come
Back to the office: “souvenirs” from the Red Bull Flugtag
As is usually the case when you travel by air, the PALFINGER crew did not return to their everyday work empty-handed. They brought home a few “souvenirs”. Here are the insights they took away from the flight spectacle:
- The position of the centre of gravity is even more important for flying machines than for cranes! 😁
- It’s truly exciting to be able to look behind the scenes at a major event like the Red Bull Flugtag.
- The various teams differ a lot in their motivations for participating.
PALFINGER’s CEO was thoroughly impressed
Our CEO Andreas Klauser is also more than satisfied with the performance: "The crew put their guiding principle 'innovation is an idea in action' into practice and delivered action along with innovation. With that spirit we drive innovation at PALFINGER. And with employees like these, we make it happen. Their strong commitment was rewarded!"
