International Bognor Birdman
Encyclopedia
The International Birdman is a competition held since the 1970s in Bognor Regis
, England, which involves human 'birdmen' attempting to fly off the end of a pier into the sea for prize money. The event has always been held on piers in West Sussex
, on the south coast of England. It first started in Selsey
, then moved to Bognor Regis
. In 2008 and 2009 it relocated to Worthing Pier
which now runs its own Birdman event. In 2010 it was held in Bognor Regis
again, resulting in two events being held in Bognor Regis
and Worthing
on different weekends.
It is the oldest Birdman Rally
in the world.
.
, West Sussex
. The event was invented by local resident George Abel, as part of a fund-raising activity for the Selsey branch of the Royal Air Forces Association
(RAFA) Club. Abel, a former RAF photographer, shortly after emigrated to Australia, where he also helped to organise Birdman events.
In 1978 the growing competition moved to the larger Bognor Regis
resort, which also has a higher pier. By 1983 the competition had attracted Europe
an teams and the attention of the BBC
. In 2008, because of the demolition of an 18 metre (60ft) length of the end of Bognor pier, the 2008 Birdman event was cancelled in Bognor, as it was thought that the new water depth of just over 13 feet (4 m) at the new end of the pier was thought to pose a safety risk to contestants. This confusion has since been resolved and the water depth by Bognor Pier is thought to be perfectly adequate. The 2008 and 2009 competitions were held in Worthing
. In 2010 and 2011 events occurred in both towns.
) flew 57.8 metres to claim the top prize, which then stood at £10,000. By 1990 the record was 71 metres, the prize distance had been increased to 100 metres and the prize money was £25,000.
The current record of 99.8 metres (327.4 ft) was set in Worthing
by Steve Elkins in 2009,
beating the previous record of 89.2 metres (292.7 ft) set by Dave Bradshaw in 1992. Elkins stood to win £30,000 if he reached 100 m (328 ft) but missed out by a few centimetres. He believed he had reached the 100 metre marker buoy and there was controversy as to whether he should have been awarded the prize.
Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun district of West Sussex, on the south coast of England. It is south-south-west of London, west of Brighton, and south-east of the city of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Littlehampton east-north-east and Selsey to the...
, England, which involves human 'birdmen' attempting to fly off the end of a pier into the sea for prize money. The event has always been held on piers in West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
, on the south coast of England. It first started in Selsey
Selsey
Selsey is a seaside town and civil parish, about seven miles south of Chichester, in the Chichester District of West Sussex, England. Selsey lies at the southernmost point of the Manhood Peninsula, almost cut off from mainland Sussex by the sea...
, then moved to Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun district of West Sussex, on the south coast of England. It is south-south-west of London, west of Brighton, and south-east of the city of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Littlehampton east-north-east and Selsey to the...
. In 2008 and 2009 it relocated to Worthing Pier
Worthing Pier
Worthing Pier is a pier in Worthing, West Sussex, England. Designed by Sir Robert Rawlinson, it was opened on 12 April 1862 and remains open. The pier originally was a simple promenade deck 960 ft long and 15 ft wide...
which now runs its own Birdman event. In 2010 it was held in Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun district of West Sussex, on the south coast of England. It is south-south-west of London, west of Brighton, and south-east of the city of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Littlehampton east-north-east and Selsey to the...
again, resulting in two events being held in Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun district of West Sussex, on the south coast of England. It is south-south-west of London, west of Brighton, and south-east of the city of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Littlehampton east-north-east and Selsey to the...
and Worthing
Worthing
Worthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester...
on different weekends.
It is the oldest Birdman Rally
Birdman Rally
Birdman Rally is a competition where members of the public build home-made gliders, hang gliders and human-powered aircraft, ranging from very serious aircraft to mere costumes, leap off a river- or seaside jetty, and compete for distance and entertainment value.Birdman rallies occur in multiple...
in the world.
Format
The competition involves running off an elevated ramp at the end of a pier and attempting to 'fly' the furthest distance. There was an initial prize of £1000 for anyone who could travel beyond 50 yards (45.7 m). Since starting, the prize money and qualifying distance has increased and in 2009 at Worthing it stood at £30,000 for reaching 100 metres (328.1 ft). The competition is divided between serious aviators mainly flying hang-gliders and people in fancy dress with little or no actual flying ability, raising money for charityCharitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
.
History
The event started in 1971 as the International Bird-Man Rally in SelseySelsey
Selsey is a seaside town and civil parish, about seven miles south of Chichester, in the Chichester District of West Sussex, England. Selsey lies at the southernmost point of the Manhood Peninsula, almost cut off from mainland Sussex by the sea...
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
. The event was invented by local resident George Abel, as part of a fund-raising activity for the Selsey branch of the Royal Air Forces Association
Royal Air Forces Association
The Royal Air Forces Association, more often known as RAF Association, or simply RAFA, is a UK based charitable organization which provides care and support to serving and retired members of the "Royal Air Forces" and their dependents.The organisation, which was formed in 1943, receives no funding...
(RAFA) Club. Abel, a former RAF photographer, shortly after emigrated to Australia, where he also helped to organise Birdman events.
In 1978 the growing competition moved to the larger Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun district of West Sussex, on the south coast of England. It is south-south-west of London, west of Brighton, and south-east of the city of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Littlehampton east-north-east and Selsey to the...
resort, which also has a higher pier. By 1983 the competition had attracted Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an teams and the attention of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. In 2008, because of the demolition of an 18 metre (60ft) length of the end of Bognor pier, the 2008 Birdman event was cancelled in Bognor, as it was thought that the new water depth of just over 13 feet (4 m) at the new end of the pier was thought to pose a safety risk to contestants. This confusion has since been resolved and the water depth by Bognor Pier is thought to be perfectly adequate. The 2008 and 2009 competitions were held in Worthing
Worthing
Worthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester...
. In 2010 and 2011 events occurred in both towns.
Performances and record
In 1984 Harold Zimmer (GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) flew 57.8 metres to claim the top prize, which then stood at £10,000. By 1990 the record was 71 metres, the prize distance had been increased to 100 metres and the prize money was £25,000.
The current record of 99.8 metres (327.4 ft) was set in Worthing
Worthing
Worthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester...
by Steve Elkins in 2009,
beating the previous record of 89.2 metres (292.7 ft) set by Dave Bradshaw in 1992. Elkins stood to win £30,000 if he reached 100 m (328 ft) but missed out by a few centimetres. He believed he had reached the 100 metre marker buoy and there was controversy as to whether he should have been awarded the prize.