Every year in Kansas the best and brightest around the solar system gather together to compete for the best homemade aircraft. This year's organizers had promised this year's competition would be even more eventful than the prior, which is not easy considering one of last year’s aircrafts used candy as fuel and scattered clouds of cotton candy from above.

 

But this year the extended isolation period due to the pandemic seems to have given some creative engineers perhaps too much time alone with their own thoughts. But we the audience have most definitely reaped the benefits of that fortitude.

 

One of this year’s competitors had a tube-like transparent cat trail wrapped all around his aircraft. The sight of an aerial vehicle hovering above with an array of cats running around was both exciting and baffling.  I guess live cat exterior will now be a thing.

 

Another aircraft had a citrus orchard plopped on its roof. We were particularly excited about this idea, due to all the doors it may open for aerial farming, which would allow less traffic down to get one’s groceries fort the sky dwellers. Freshly squeezed aerial orange juice is just what we need.

 

The winning DIY this year was surrounded by odd-looking mushrooms that sprouted all around it in, suspended in rapid growth clay. The aircraft was also fueled by these odd mushrooms, and though it was rather slow, it is completely self-sustainable and the perfect habitat for those who appreciate a light slow trip. Pun intended.