Purdue team builds drum for Flugtag

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CHICAGO, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Purdue University said its marching band will participate in the Red Bull Flugtag in Chicago by flying the world's largest drum into Lake Michigan.

Chris Tamamoto, team captain for the "All American" Marching Band and a senior in aeronautical engineering at the Indiana school, said the "Dropping the Bass" glider will be a life-sized replica of the world's largest drum with wings and a tail attached to allow it to glide, Purdue University News reported Friday.

"Purdue students have a long history of pushing the frontiers of flight," Yamamoto said. "None is more well known than Purdue band alumnus Neil Armstrong. Of course, he flew farther than we will."

Yamamoto, who will pilot the craft at the Sept. 8 event, said he previously served as chief engineer for a team that finished second at the 2010 Flugtag in Florida.

"I hope to use that experience and my now-increased aerospace engineering education to propel us to victory," Yamamoto said. "Of course, my thrust is completely dependent on the muscles of bandmates. Unfortunately, all of the football players are busy that day pushing people around at Notre Dame."