The Red Bull Paper Wings event is making a return visit to Murfreesboro next week — seeking MTSU students wanting to compete in a local qualifying event.

The qualifier — to find winners with the most airtime with a paper airplane and the distance the plane travels — takes place starting at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 3, in the Donald McDonald Hangar at the MTSU Flight Operations Center at Murfreesboro Airport, 1940 Memorial Blvd.

With the company’s airplane in the foreground, Kevin Coleman, Red Bull Air Race Challenger Class pilot, discusses the upcoming Paper Wings qualifying event and fields questions from MTSU students Tuesday, Feb. 22, at the Donald McDonald Hangar at aerospace’s Flight Operations Center at Murfreesboro Airport. All MTSU students are eligible to register for the Paper Wings event, to begin at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 3. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

The Red Bull Paper Wings is an annual event, marketed as the world’s largest paper plane championship, last held for MTSU students in March 2019.

The company, known for its energy drinks, did not hold qualifiers, regional or international events in 2020-21 because of the pandemic. Masks will be recommended inside the hangar. MTSU faculty, staff and nonparticipating students are welcome to watch.

The event is open to all MTSU students, not just those in aerospace, said Savannah Richardson LoTempio, aerospace outreach coordinator, assisting MTSU alumnus Jasper Pocopanni, Red Bull brand marketing specialist, with the advance planning of the event.

Savannah Richardson LoTempio

“Anybody enrolled at MTSU is welcome to participate,” said LoTempio. She recommends participants register in advance, though there will be same-day registration in the hangar. To register, go here.

Winners in the two categories will advance to the regional championship April 16 in Huntsville, Alabama. The regional winners advance to the international championship in Austria in May.

Kevin Coleman, Red Bull Air Race Challenger Class pilot, showed a company plane and held a question-and-answer session with students inside the hangar on Tuesday, Feb. 22.

To raise awareness in the Paper Wings event, Coleman planned to fly former U.S. gymnast Shawn Johnson on Wednesday, Feb. 23, at Murfreesboro Airport, but it was canceled because of inclement weather. Johnson earned Olympic gold and silver medals in 2012.

For more information, contact LoTempio by calling 615-890-5755 or email Savannah.Richardson@mtsu.edu or Pocopanni by calling 615-559-8144 or email Jasper.Pocopanni@redbull.com.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)

MTSU aerospace students take photos and check out the Red Bull competition plane, part of the company’s fleet, Tuesday, Feb. 22, in the Donald McDonald Hangar that’s part of the university’s Flight Operations Center at Murfreesboro Airport. All MTSU students can register to compete in the Red Bull Paper Wings qualifying event in the hangar starting at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 3. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)