Will Red Bull give the 1819 UC Flugtag team its wings?

‘The Cat’s Contraption’ on the prowl for a Flugtag win

It started as a joke in a group text and quickly took off. Literally.

As seen on WCPO, a team of five innovative University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science students turned a playful idea into a full-fledged, human-powered aircraft. They call themselves the “Flugcats” and are prepared to claw their way to the top – of a 22-foot-high platform, that is.

The Red Bull Flugtag event attracts engineers, artists, students and thrill-seekers to compete in the internationally renowned event, which will be hosted at Cincinnati’s Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove on Saturday, Aug. 9, from noon to 4 p.m.

Red Bull Flugtag platform being constructed.

Photos left to right: 1) Redbull platform being constructed at Sawyer Point. 2) Zac McNaughton and Ariana DeLuca discuss flight safety. Photos/Alisha Sutcliffe

What is Flugtag?

Flugtag (pronounced FLOOG-tahg) is a German word that means “flight day.” The event started in 1992 in Vienna, Austria, and is a competition where teams build and pilot homemade, human-powered flying machines off a ramp into a body of water. In this case, the Ohio River. No engines or motors allowed.

Meet the Flugcats

The students stand alongside their aircraft.

The Flugcats stand alongside the Cat's Contraption inside the 1819 Innovation Hub. From LtoR: David Dubiel, Zac McNaughton, Eli Okuley, Tyler Hudson and Ariana DeLuca. Photo/Alisha Sutcliffe.

Paws-itive vibes only, the team’s name pays tribute to the UC mascot. Here’s the group of daring Bearcats – Flugcats, actually – who crafted the design at UC's 1819 Innovation Hub:

Zak McNaughton – Aerospace Engineering

Ariana DeLuca – Aerospace Engineering (and the brave pilot of the aircraft)

David Dubiel – Mechanical Engineering

Tyler Hudson – Electrical Engineering

Eli Okuley – Chemical Engineering

Photos from left to right: 1) Eli Okuley makes revisions to the design. 2) Tyler Hudson uses the tools and resources of the Ground Floor Makerspace. Photo/Alisha Sutcliffe

Leveraging the University of Cincinnati’s resources, the team had full access to the 1819 Innovation Hub’s Ground Floor Makerspace, a cutting-edge 12,000-square-foot machine shop complete with 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC tools and expert mentorship to guide them along the way.

The team shares that DeLuca purr-suaded them to commit to the ambitious project, which they worked on in between their studies.

It was in the 1819 makerspace that they fabricated every part of their aircraft from scratch, embracing the spirit of hands-on, cross-disciplinary collaboration that defines UC's innovation ecosystem.

'The Cat’s Contraption'

The students work on assembling the wings.

The Flugcats work on assembling the wings of 'the Cat's Contraption.' Photo/Diana Lara

In another nod to UC, the team appropriately named their aircraft “The Cat’s Contraption.”

The design boasts a 21-inch wingspan, just 1 inch shy of the maximum wingspan allowed under Red Bull Flugtag competition rules!

The team drew its inspiration for "The Cat’s Contraption" from the industrial aesthetic of Crosley Tower, fusing engineering skill with a playful tribute to local history — before both meet their eventual demolition.

Distance is the goal; however, most crafts don’t fly very far and end up hilariously crashing into the water. The world record is over 250 feet, but most flights are much shorter, often under 30 feet.

Vote daily to support the UC’s Flugcats

Image of the Cat's Contraption aircraft.

Vote in the People's Choice category for the Cat's Contraption. Photo/UC Flugcats

You can support your fellow students with free votes (1 per day) at the Red Bull Flugtag Cincinnati 2025 People’s Choice voting page.

The team is listed under "The Cats Contraption" in the voting list.

Although they don't have a social media page, you can still tag and follow their story on @1819InnovationHub.

Cat-alysts of innovation

Student sits on the aircraft before the competition.

Paws-ing for a moment, Ariana DeLuca sits in the pilot's seat ready to soar. Photo/UC Flugcats.

Competitors will be judged on the following criteria: flight distance, creativity and showmanship. In addition to distance flown, the showmanship portion includes costumes, skits, and music.

Whether they fly or flop, the Flugcats are soaring in what matters most: imagination, teamwork and bold thinking.

The Flugcats’ participation underscores UC’s commitment to experiential learning, creative problem-solving and community-connected design as part of the Cincinnati Innovation District. If you’re ready for your own bold idea to soar, launch your project at the 1819 Innovation Hub.

Cover photo: UC Flugtag Team and their aircraft, The Cat's Contraption. Photo/Greg Glevicky

Innovation Lives Here

The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.

Will Red Bull give the 1819 UC Flugtag team its wings?