Voys Takes Flight: Part 2 – The Finale of Red Bull Flugtag 2025

After weeks of sanding, sawing, and late-night engineering sessions, the Voys team finally took to the skies, and the sea at Red Bull Flugtag 2025 in Cape Town, landing an incredible 2nd place finish out of 50 competing teams.

Our craft, the Skyjack 2.0, was a nod to classic aviation, a wooden, paper-built wonder inspired by the legendary De Havilland Mosquito, one of the fastest aircrafts of World War II (Made mostly of wood due to material shortages and constraints during wartime). It was proof that simplicity, creativity, and teamwork can do what complexity often can’t: make something beautifully effective.

If you’ve already read Part 1, you’ll know the sweat, the sawdust, and the wild imagination that got us here. But what happened next, from drop-off chaos to that unforgettable launch over the V&A Waterfront, was the kind of story that reminds you why we do what we do.

The Final Countdown

It all started at 10 a.m. on October 31st, when we rolled into the V&A Waterfront drop-off hangar, our craft loaded up, our hearts already racing. Between the usual Cape Town traffic and last-minute errands, we were running on caffeine and adrenaline.

But we’d made it.

The moment we began unloading, though, Murphy’s Law kicked in. During transport, the craft had picked up a few tears and scuffs, nothing major, but enough to make us twitch. To make things worse, there wasn’t enough indoor space to store everyone’s builds, which meant the Skyjack 2.0 would have to spend the night outside, exposed to the unpredictable Cape Town weather.

That Friday evening, dark clouds rolled in over Table Mountain. We scrambled to find bags and tape, doing what we could to cover her up. It wasn’t much,  more hope than shelter, but it would have to do. We finished up, exchanged a few nervous laughs, and headed back to the Voys office to regroup and discuss what Saturday would look like.

Saturday Struggles

By sunrise, I was already up and out the door. The first thing I did was check the craft.
My heart sank. I looked at Todd and said lets hope for good weather today!

The overnight wind and moisture had caused more damage than expected, soft spots on the paper sections, weakened joints, and a few sagging panels. Considering we’d built this thing out of wood and paper, it wasn’t looking good.

But then the sun started to climb, and as the warmth spread across the V&A, something magical happened: the Skyjack 2.0 began to dry and regain its shape. That’s when the energy kicked back in.

We rolled up our sleeves and got to work, re-gluing, reshaping, and re-taping. What we thought would be a relaxed Saturday turned into a full-blown repair marathon under the African sun.

By midday, the heat was brutal, but we kept going. There’s something about building something together, something you’ve poured hours into, that gives you an extra gear. 

Everyone had their moment with the craft: Curtley fixing the wings, Leigh rebalancing the frame, Izzy redoing the cockpit, and Todd testing stability.

By 5 p.m., we were sunburnt, dehydrated, and covered in sawdust, and glue, but finally, the Skyjack 2.0 was holding steady again. She looked strong. Proud. Ready.

Well, almost.

The trolley was functional, but the wheels were low on air. And, of course, we didn’t have a pump. Just another day in paradise.

Flight Briefing & Final Prep

That late afternoon, we attended the official Red Bull Flugtag briefing, where we got the lowdown on how Flight Day would play out. Each team was assigned a number, and we’d be Team 31 out of 50.

The organisers ran through everything, from the ramp incline to safety checks and crowd flow. The launch stage would face Quay 4, right where the crowds were thickest. We could already imagine the energy, the noise, the cameras.

By the time we left the briefing, we were equal parts excited and exhausted. Back at home, it was an early night, or at least that was the plan. Most of us barely slept, replaying the launch over and over in our head and battling heat exhaustion – nothing Klaps you like a scorcher in Africa!.

Sunday Morning – Flight Day

November 2nd, 2025.

The day had finally arrived.

Cape Town Harbour woke up early, alive with the sound of laughter, music, and Red Bull energy. A subtle south-westerly breeze brushed over the water from Blaauwburg side — perfect flight conditions. Crowds were already gathering by 9 a.m., and by midday, an estimated 100,000 people had packed the V&A Waterfront to watch one of the craziest, most creative events on the planet.

The vibe was unreal. Teams were dressed in wild costumes; some were doing test runs, others dancing and hyping up the crowd. You could smell sunscreen, salt air, and the faint tang of Red Bull everywhere.

We took a walk down the wharf to check out the competition, and wow. Big names like BFGoodrich and FlySafair had brought serious machines: reinforced frames, massive wingspans, and professional-grade finishes. Compared to that, our Skyjack 2.0 looked like the underdog, simple, humble, but built with heart.

And that’s exactly what made her special.

The Pump That Saved the Day

As our number got closer, we realised we still hadn’t fixed the low air pressure in the Push Cart wheels. Every push down the wharf felt heavier, slower, and with the weight of the craft, we knew that resistance could cost us valuable speed on the ramp.

Then, out of nowhere, we spotted another team walking by — carrying a wheel pump.

I sprinted over, explained our situation, and they didn’t hesitate to help. Within minutes, our wheels were inflated and rolling smooth again. That small act of kindness reminded us that even in competition, there’s always room for community.

With that, we were officially ready to fly.

The Launch

As the hours passed, we watched one team after another take their turn. Some soared impressively; others crashed spectacularly. Every splash sent a roar through the crowd.

And then, finally — it was our turn.

We pushed the Voys Skyjack 2.0 up the 6.5-meter ramp, feeling the boards creak under its wooden frame. The Red Bull crew handed us our life jackets and helmets, double-checked the connections, and gave us the nod.

The music hit.
We took the stage for our performance,  a cheeky march straight out of a vintage air show, followed by Curtley shaking it up for the crowd (and yes, all of Cape Town saw it). Laughter erupted from the stands, and the nerves instantly faded.

Back at the ramp, We lifted Izzy into the cockpit, our brave pilot. Myself, my Brother Leigh, Todd, and Curt got into push position. Cameras zoomed in. And our Cart and Craft branded by the one and only G. The beat dropped again, and Izzy gave us a small, confident nod.

That was the signal.

We counted down, “3… 2… 1…” — and we charged.
Full throttle, no hesitation, all heart.

At the perfect moment off she went Myself and Leigh detached and launched off the side, the Skyjack 2.0’s wings detached from the Cart, lifting into the air there she went with Izzy…Into the sky. The crowd gasped… and for a few glorious seconds, our wooden dream actually flew.

When Izzy hit the water, it wasn’t a crash, it was a high speed landing.(Well it was a landing for us) We’d managed 14.5 meters one of the top distances of the entire event! (Number 2 actually!)

The crowd erupted.
We’d done it.

Check out our full Flight here:

Voys Skyjack 2.0 takes flight!

The Results Are In

When the scores came through, we could hardly believe it , Voys had placed 2nd overall at Red Bull Flugtag 2025!

The judges loved our sustainable design, our teamwork, and the way we captured the spirit of Flugtag, not just in the flight, but in the entire journey to get there.

Out of 50 incredible teams, engineers, artists, and adrenaline junkies, our humble Skyjack 2.0, made from wood, paper, and pure imagination, soared above expectations.

It was a win for simplicity, for resourcefulness, and for doing more with less, values we live by every day.

Reflections From the Team

“It’s easy to overcomplicate things — harder to make something simple that actually works. That’s what made this special.”
— Val

“When we started, we had no idea we’d come this far. Every setback was just part of the story. Seeing our craft take off made it all worth it.”
— Izzy

“Flugtag isn’t just about flying — it’s about freedom, creativity, and having the courage to try. And that’s what Voys is all about.”
— Curtley

Why It Mattered

For us, Red Bull Flugtag wasn’t just a fun weekend project, It was 80 hours of work and it was a reminder of who we are as a team.

At Voys, we’re constantly building, experimenting, and challenging what’s possible, whether it’s rethinking phone systems, shaping smarter communication, or, well, launching a wooden plane off a pier in front of 100,000 people.

This experience reminded us that innovation doesn’t always come from complexity. It comes from bold ideas, teamwork, and the freedom to fail, and try again.

Until Next Time, Cape Town

As the sun set over the V&A Waterfront, we stood on the pier,wet, laughing, holding our helmets and looking at the shimmering water where the Skyjack 2.0 made her splashdown.

We may have come second, but at that moment, it felt like first place.

We built something with our hands, flew it with our hearts, and shared it with a city that cheered us on every step of the way.

Here’s to the next flight, and to keeping things simple, smart, and full of spirit.

Because as we always say at Voys:

Freedom is Calling – So take that leap when its your turn!

– Team Voys