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Red Bull Australia has announced the local winners of its 2021 Red Bull Paper Wings paper plane-making competition.
Cameron Clark, a former Red Bull Paper Wings world champion after winning the 2019 global competition under the “longest airtime” division, is set to defend his title this year, after again winning the local qualifier for longest airtime with his paper airplane.
Clark, a university student from Swinburne University in Victoria, will head to Salzburg, Austria, from 13-14 May for the world championship, and again show off his paper plane-making skills on the global stage.
He will be joined by two Western Australia paper planemakers, both claiming local titles out of the University of Western Australia.
Connor Smith has won the local qualifier under the “distance” division and will also face off against global competitors next month in Austria, alongside Heneesha Deol, who won under the “aerobatics” division.
Matt Hall, Red Bull Air Race world champion turned Red Bull Paper Wings judge, said: “I’m thrilled to congratulate the three Red Bull Paper Wings local winners who now have a chance to compete in Austria.
“The competition is one a kind and we hope this will inspire the next generation of pilots – whether that be paper plane pilots or future performance aerobatic pilots like myself.”
“Red Bull Paper Wings is an experience of a lifetime and I’m thrilled to have won the national ‘qualiflyers’ for longest airtime again!” said Clark.
“It will be a different challenge to refine my winning paper folding and plane throwing strategy, but I’m looking forward to representing Australia on the global stage once again for the chance to defend my world champion title.”
Meanwhile, Smith said, “It’s hard to describe how excited I am to represent Australia at the Red Bull Paper Wings World Final in Austria.
“There are three parties I would like to thank. Firstly, Red Bull for never failing to give me wings. Secondly, my year 7 science teacher for inspiring my paper plane journey. And lastly, Tom Brady for serving as the epitome of peak athletic performance.
“I can’t wait to compete, and I know I can bring home some silverware with the nation’s support behind me.”
Last week, Australian Aviation reported that the event formerly known as the Red Bull Air Race will soon return to Australia in November for the first time since 2010.
Its new organisers hope the leg will attract 150,000 people at the location, which has yet to be announced.
The iconic event, which sees aircraft race around obstacles, was launched by Red Bull in 2003 but the business announced its closure in 2019.
It’s now set to be revived as the Air Race World Championship by digital tech firm Touchpoint, with the first leg held at the UK racecourse of Goodwood.
Nalin Jay, the series’ CEO, said, “Australia has an incredible sporting legacy, and it is only fitting that we are racing in the home country of the current Air Race world champion, Matt Hall.
“Both locations will provide a stunning backdrop for the Air Race and fans are expected to come from all over the world to watch what is still the fastest motorsport in the world.”
