On Aug. 9, just four months short of the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' historic flight at Kitty Hawk, Rachel Galan will attempt to take to the air in a human-powered flying machine.

Shaped like a giant lobster.

"I don't weigh much and I'm easily talked into doing crazy stuff," says Galan, explaining how she came to be at the controls of Larry the Giant Flying Lobster, as the aircraft is dubbed. Galan's bold attempt will be part of the Red Bull Flugtag ("flight day" in German), a daylong event at Monroe Harbor. The Flying Lobster--weighing maybe 50 pounds and with a clawspan of 15 feet, including antennae--is one of 37 craft scheduled to compete in the Flugtag, a bizarre combination of engineering, ingenuity, theatrics and humor. Especially humor.

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The object of a Flugtag is simple: Build and launch a human-powered flying machine from a 25-foot ramp over a body of water. Teams are judged on distance (the U.S. record is 70 feet, set in Austin), creativity (one Chicago entry is the Floating Oompa Loompa Head) and showmanship (each team is required to perform a two-minute skit, complete with music, before taking to the air. Or the water, as the case may be).

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Their finished machine will have arms (its wings) that move and claws that open and close; its tail will move as well. Antennae will be made of those long red foam pool toys. And it'll be covered with a red plastic material that Hayman found on a discount table at a fabric store, quite the bargain at $16 for an entire bolt.

"The saleslady said, `What are you gonna use that for?' I told her. You should have seen her face."

Seems that all these teams are going to a lot of trouble. But then again, there are prizes. The winning team gets a choice between flying lessons for one team member and $7,500 cash. It's a no-brainer for the Taylor team.

"The $7,500," Kelly says. "That's a lot of beer."

No, it's not at Meigs

What: Red Bull Flugtag.

When: Saturday, Aug. 9; the first flight is scheduled for 1:03 p.m., but the venue opens at 11 a.m. so the public can get close looks at the craft. The last flight is 4:30, followed by the awards ceremony.

Who: 37 teams (out of more than 400 that applied).

Where: Monroe Harbor, just off Randolph Street, between Navy Pier and the Shedd Aquarium.

Why: Fun. Or, as a member of one team put it: "The main purpose is to embarrass and humiliate anyone we're associated with."

Admission: Free.

For more information: [link|http://www.redbullflugtagchicago.com|www.redbullflugtagchicago.com]