Getting Ready for 'Flugtug;' Ken Poli's Quest

Sometimes in the midst of all the serious news in the world there is a story that makes you smile.

Jake Thomases in LoHud.com relays such a story about airplane designer Ken Poli. As Thomases reports, Poli made "SportsCenter" highlights of the top 10 plays in 2006. Poli's feat was ranked at number 2. It was ranked not because of a great success but because of failure at Baltimore 2006.

At the Red Bull challenge a large wooden plane that Poli had constructed didn't fly as hoped but went plunging off a pier pilot and all. No flying record but Poli became a crowd favorite since the plane was featured as "Dumbo" and there is something hilarious about a large elephant taking its pilot into the water.

As Thomases' article goes on to explain, Poli's effort was part of a program called "Flugtag" which is German for "flying day" where teams build aircraft with weird themes capable of short flight and flown by one person.

Ken Poli is no quitter. This year the competition is being held in three places: Chicago, Tampa Bay and Portland and, he thinks he has a shot.

The LoHud.com article continues to report that Poli's new plane will have a "junk mail" theme. The plane will be created as white mail truck with junk mail pasted to the sides.

The comedy aspect of the competition has not been lost on Poli. Before the attempted flight, Poli, dressed as a mail man, will be chased into the plane by another team member dressed like a dog and then, a whole lot of junk mail will fall out of the plane.

I think Poli has a great chance.

There is no doubt that humor helps in competition. When I was 11 I was in a "Soap Box Derby" competition. Of course, I was way more interested in dreaming about winning than building a solid car.

When the day of the competition came I brought a pair of goggles to look "cool". Actually they were swimming goggles. The three cars in the heat sped down the hill within inches of one another. I finished the race, second.