The Best Bits of the Red Bull Paper Wings World Finals
The Eurovision of Paper Planes, or as it's more commonly referred to, the Red Bull Paper Wings World Finals, took place this past weekend in Austria. What began with 46,000 students from around the world was narrowed down to a few lucky finalists, who were flown to Salzburg to compete. Not too shabby right? 197 participants (191 guys and 6 girls), 80 countries and 72 incredible hours. Check out our best bits of the weekend.
1) The Red Bull Paper Wings plane tickets. They fit in your pocket fairly easily.
2) The opening ceremony that was just an array of colours, flags and national costumes.
3) The commitment of Team Great Britain to their look.
4) Same goes for the All Black Flying Kiwis costumes.
5) All The Red Bull.
6) The Mexican sombreros.
7) Team Denmark never taking off their Viking Hats.
8) The Welcoming Committee.
9) Teaching the College Times team how to make some paper planes.
10) Getting to see Felix Baumgartners famous Base jump suit IRL.
11) The super unimpressive cars.
12) The planes were okay too.
13) Okay the jets were pretty amazing.
14) And the bikes.
15) And even more Formula 1 cars.
16) HANGAR - 7; the home of all these cars, planes and bikes.
17) Getting to try all of the different flavours of Red Bull. Who knew there was such variety?!
18) Paper plane vines by Zach King.
19) The world map of team group shots; we're all on there!
20) The oh so delicious Red Bull cocktails in HANGAR-7.
21) The national pride from all teams.
22) Colm Hemersley's Spongebob shorts and Irish flag cape. Clearly from Team Ireland, in case you couldn't tell.
23) Flying Drinks - Any drink you can concoct with Red Bull. They give you wiiings!
24) Formula One Edition Red Bull. Swanky.
25) Casual performing Panda from Poland for the aerobatics.
26) The newest member of the Red Bull family: Red Bull Tropical.
27) The international haka before New Zealand's Aerobatic performance. Ireland, Sweden, Australia, Portugal, Great Britain, USA and Canada were just some of the teams that took part.
28) Even more Red Bull.
29) The trophies.
30) All the variations of paper planes.
31) Lebanon’s perfect score in the aerobatics super final. La di da.
32) If you win in Aerobatics you get to fly this plane. Part of the Flying Bulls fleet, the EXTRA 300L flies at up to 8G. Very cool.
33) Aerobatics is a 60 second performance with paper planes in front of 5 judges. As long as paper planes are used, you can do anything. Like build a cannon filled with tricolour mini paper planes like Ireland.
34) If you win the Longest Airtime Category, you get flying lessons in this Helicopter from the Flying Bulls fleet.
35) We love you Red Bull!
Keep an eye out for the next Red Bull Paper Wings campus qualifiers so you can win the chance to represent Ireland at the World Finals in Austria in 2018!