Adam and Holly Albert, who moved to Willow Glen in 1997, are novices when it comes to flying, but they did experience paragliding and hot air ballooning while living in New Mexico. But last year they decided to participate in the first North American Flugtag—German for "flight day"—in San Francisco.

The Austria-based Red Bull energy drink company has sponsored Flugtags (pronounced "flu-tahg") in Europe and Australia since 1991. Contestants build human-powered contraptions that are pushed off a pier in hopes that they will fly.

Last year was to be the first North American event, but the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks caused the cancellation of the pier-pushing segment of the competition for security reasons.

But the Alberts didn't come home empty-handed. They took first place for best design. Their aircraft, which they named Bullrings, was made out of plastic tubing, wood and Styrofoam.

The contest requires contestants to build a contraption that is entirely human-powered. The total weight—including the pilot—must be less than 450 pounds, and the device must be less than 30 feet wide.

During this year's event the Alberts competed with the Treasure Island Express. The event was held Oct. 26 in San Francisco at Piers 30 through 32.

Out of the 35 machines entered, Adam thinks only about eight or nine were built for flying. The other machines were built just for show and for the novelty of pushing a parade float off a pier, Adam said.

"There were no material stipulations whatsoever," Adam said. "One of the aircrafts was made out of concrete."

The Alberts were selected from more than a hundred applicants, who were required to submit designs of their machines. Among those making the cut were contraptions in the shape of a saucer, a seahorse, a flying Elvis and a martini glass.

Judging was based on creativity, showmanship and the distance the machine could fly, according to Red Bull officials.

Adam has a Class 2 paragliding license, but no one on the 10-member Treasure Island Express team has any professional experience in aeronautics or aviation engineering.

When asked if the team has any business making a flying machine, given their qualifications, Holly said, "We probably don't."

Team member Arlene Shimabukuro asked, "Does kite flying count?"

"We weren't afraid to take on the challenge," said Adam, who works in finance for a dot-com. "We saw the advertisement on television last year and decided to enter the contest. We took first prize, but it was a popularity contest because the flying part of the competition was cancelled."

Adam said he built a new contraption for this year's entry because last year's model—Bullrings—was flawed.

The Treasure Island Express weighed only 120 pounds. Its fuselage was made from a simple wooden beam, and the wings—situated behind the pilot—were made of Styrofoam and plastic wrap.

Adam said it looked like they were the only team to incorporate a propeller into their design. All the other contestants seemed to be gliding in their homemade machines.

The Treasure Island Express was the 32nd entry to go off the pier, and after seeing a headwind throw 31 contraptions, the team decided to remove the propulsion gear.

"Holly sat in the pilot's seat and glided into the bay," Adam said. "She went about 27 feet and landed in the water."

She wasn't wearing a wetsuit, but Holly said the water wasn't too cold.

Last year the Alberts took home a check for $3,500 and used it to finance a recent vacation to Vancouver, Canada. This year's first prize is $7,500 or flying lessons.

But Adam said making a flying machine can be pricey. He won't disclose how much it took to build the Treasure Island Express, but it was more than they had expected.

He did say that the combined cost of last year's Bullrings and this year's Treasure Island Express was less than the 2001 prize money "by a significant amount."

In any case, the contest was a way to get friends together, Adam said.

"Everybody in the community was really great," Holly said. "Our neighbor pitched in with his truck and let us use his table saw."

Jessica Mandoki, spokesperson for Red Bull, said the Alberts did very well.

Adam said he and Holly will definitely try out for next year's Flugtag and that time focus their design on flying capability rather than novelty.

"That's where our passion lies—in distance," Adam said.

For more information about the Red Bull Flugtag, visit www.flugtagsf.com.