Armond "Hawk" Fernandes, 19, flew to victory in both the longest distance and longest airtime categories as the Red Bull Paper Wings qualifiers were held over the past two weeks. Students came out in their numbers to support their classmates at UWI South Campus and "Hawk" did not disappoint them with his winning distance of 55.2 feet and winning time of three seconds. Fernandes said: "As you can see the 'Hawk' is versed at flying, I am so happy I copped both categories, I plan to keep the winning momentum going at the finals."
Keron Granger was the most dynamic and creative in the acrobatic category earning 25 points out of 30. Finals of the qualifying rounds will take place on Thursday at UWI, St Augustine from 1pm. Over the past weeks, Red Bull Paper Wings have been visiting university campuses in search of the longest flight, airtime and incredible acrobatics from a paper airplane.
The cafeteria at the COSTAATT City Campus was packed on March 8 where Johdan Bhagwhandat's paper creation took the longest distance title with 45.1 feet. The longest airtime was won by Vinod Maharaj whose plane flew for 3.3 seconds while Nigel Manoo representing COSTAATT enjoyed the highest score of 25 out of 30 in the acrobatic category. Bhagwandhat, 24, a civil engineering student was still in shock at his victory. "I cant believe I won the longest distance category. Hopefully in the national finals I can come out on top and take home the trip to Panama and after that, Austria!" The national winners will receive an expenses paid weekend at the Nitrocity Hotel in Panama Travis Pastrana's newest playground. Additionally they will face the rest of the Latin America and Caribbean winners to determine who will get wings to represent the region in the World Final in Austria in May.