DOC Brown's DeLorean time machine famously took to the skies in iconic scenes from the film Back to the Future.

Now a team of York aviators is creating its own version of the sports car and hopes it will at least fly a short distance – ‘or maybe France!’ - in the world's craziest festival of flight this weekend.

The team, all in their early 30s and old friends from their schooldays at Canon Lee in Clifton, consists of Captain Mark Hudson, of Osbaldwick, pilot Paul Colman, originally from Rawcliffe, Jonny Garnett, of Acomb and Chris Parker, of Dunnington.

Mark said they had been creating a craft based on the car featured in the hit films - but with wings measuring eight metres from tip to tip - in a yard near Green Hammerton over the past month, working evenings and weekends.

Now they will attempt to fly it in the RedBull Flugtag event at Roundhay Park, Leeds, on Sunday, which is expected to be attended by up to 25,000 spectators and will involve 34 teams attempting to fly in a variety of home-made craft.

The Press has already reported how Gordon Martin, 41, of Tadcaster, is part of a team from Barnsley hoping to fly a giant kestrel in the festival.

Mark said that he, Jonny and Chris would push their craft down a ramp, with Paul inside, and they would hope to get it to 15-17 mph by the time it took off. “If we can get it to that speed, we can generate lift,” he said.

He added that the craft would come down the ramp on a trolley that would be jettisoned before take-off to reduce the weight, and pyrotechnics would be deployed, with a smoke grenade at the back and ‘flash bangs’ at the front.

The team’s preparations are featured in a video which can be found at http://www.redbull.co.uk/cs/Satellite/en_UK/Video/red-bull-flugtag-lard-files-episode-2-021243045923434