FIU Engineering Students Enter Human-Powered Aircraft in Red Bull Flugtag

Five Florida International University students will fly a self-constructed aircraft from a 30-foot platform over Biscayne Bay on Saturday. They are the only college team competing in the 2026 Red Bull Flugtag Miami event. The competition invites dozens of human-powered contraptions to launch one by one in front of tens of thousands of spectators.

The group spent two months building the machine while balancing coursework and jobs. Felix Fraile, a junior electrical engineering major, started the project in his home. He described storage as the most difficult logistical challenge. At one point, he kept a 12-foot structure inside his bedroom. The team later moved operations to a makerspace at FIU’s Engineering Center to access power tools and precision instruments.

Budget constraints dictated the material choices. The students used plywood and tarp to keep costs low. They also selected the lightest team member as the pilot to stay within the 400-pound weight limit. Fraile stated that the final design relies on digital simulations run on a university computing platform to determine performance.

The finished craft resembles a glider. Four team members will provide a running start by pushing it off the launch pad. The pilot will be strapped into the machine. Judges will evaluate the flight based on total distance, construction quality, and durability. Previous winners of the global competition have traveled nearly 80 feet before landing in the water.

The event also includes a pre-flight performance. The students plan to wear dress suits and flesh-colored skullcaps purchased at Goodwill. They will dance to Pitbull’s “Damn I Love Miami” before all five members enter the water. The costume is intended to mimic the style of the Miami singer.

Fraile initially conceived the entry as a marketing strategy to recruit new members for the IEEE club. He serves as the chair of technical projects for the organization, which primarily serves electrical engineering majors. He invited students from other backgrounds to participate. He reported that membership is increasing rapidly following the announcement.

Fraile said the project was designed to signal the club's ambition. He wanted to demonstrate that the group aims to undertake large-scale projects. The team will take to the water Saturday to test if their homemade glider can compete with professional and amateur teams from around the world.