Beer, evidently can fly. Or glide at least. That's what we discovered today at the 5th Annual BrewTag in Nags Head.
Maybe the winds were just right; maybe the contestants are finally figuring out how to build a glider that will fly a small keg of beer (empty, or course). Perhaps the sheer number of contestants—15, the most ever—raised the competitive bar.
Or maybe it was just plain dumb luck.
Whatever it was, two of the best flights ever recorded at BrewTag happened this afternoon. the idea is to strap a 1/6 keg of beer—empty, of course—to a homemade glider, launch it from a 20' tower and see how far it will fly.
We thought we had the all time winner when the Blue Crab Tavern team, representing the Colington Road bar and restaurant ripped off a 66'4" flight, besting the old mark by 9'.
The team's celebration was a thing to behold as they ran around the flight field cheering wildly as they carried their aircraft to safety.
Their joy was short-lived. Three flights later, team Late For Work shattered the Blue Crab Tavern record with an astonishing flight of 96'7".
It is important to note that not every flight was a thing of beauty, gracefully soaring as the glider settled to the ground. There was stiff competition for the shortest flight of the day...12'6" just edging out 12'7". And quite a few of the aircraft did not survive the landing.
Nonetheless, from the vantage of flight, this was the most successful yet.
The day was also a very successful fundraiser—according to John Harris, the President of Kitty Hawk Kites who sponsored the event, the 2019 BrewTag raised more money than any had in the past.
That's great news. Half of the proceeds will be going to Ocracoke through the Outer Banks Community Foundation's Ocracoke Disaster Relief Fund. The remaining proceeds will help fund the Francis Rogallo Foundation. Francis Rogallo was a NASA engineer who, among other things, invented the Rogallo wing that is used in hang gliding.
Looking for a getaway to a wonderful place by the sea? Check out what Joe Lamb, Jr. & associates has to offer.
