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. [1] [1] It is the oldest Birdman Rally in the world.
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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 (46 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 (330 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 charity.
The event started in 1971 as the International Bird-Man Rally in Selsey, 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. [2]
In 1978 the growing competition moved to the larger Bognor Regis resort, which also has a higher pier. By 1983 the competition had attracted European 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 (4.0 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.
In 1984 Harold Zimmer (Germany) 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 99.86 metres (327.6 ft) was set in Worthing by Steve Elkins in 2009, [3]
Birdman beating the previous record of 89.2 metres (293 ft) set by Dave Bradshaw in 1992.[1] 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.[4]
The BBC ran a news report after the event titled "Birdman Cheated of 30k win." Sharon Clarke, organiser of the Worthing Birdman event, [5] appears in the video. Using footage recorded by HotDog Media[6] she showed where the flight was scored to.
However the rules published before the event show that this was incorrect and the flight should have been scored several meters further. The original rules that appear on the 2009 entry form are archived here.[7]
The following rules appear on pages 11 and 12 of the 2009 entry form:
1.13 The Aviator will be deemed to “cease to fly” when they stop moving forward and have any significant part of their legs or body immersed in the water, or when additional force is gained from any swimming stroke, push or jump from any obstacle.
1.14 Touching the water does not count against a competitor during a flight and is discounted in all measurements. Video footage will be available to the Judges in the event of any dispute.
2.1 To achieve the £30,000 Jackpot Prize of flying the furthest beyond the 100 metre mark, the Aviator’s head must reach or cross over the measured 100 metre mark inside the prescribed course.
The 2009 rules were removed from the Worthing Birdman website shortly after the BBC TV report and replaced.
The Worthing Argus ran a similar article on 25th August 2009.[8]
In the article the scorer Jim Brooks is quoted, "“We judged that the buoys were being dragged back towards the pier at the time and that he fell short of the 100m mark."
The buoys were dragged by the very strong current at the time but in the opposite direction, to that claimed by Mr Jim Brooks, away from the pier. The affects of the current on the glider when in the water is clearly visible in the slow motion video taken by Hot Dog Media.[9]
Given the direction of the current, it is clear that the buoys would be dragged in the opposite direction to that claimed by Mr Jim Brooks. This would make the flight appear shorter in the video than it in fact was. (Because the 100m buoy was being dragged further than 100m from the pier.)
Mr Jim Brooks has many years involvement with the Birdman event. The current has always run in the same direction during the event(from East to West around high tide) and has been a useful safety feature of the event as competitors taking off to the West are washed away from the Pier.
Although jumping off the pier is strictly prohibited, allowances are made for this event as it is a serious flying competition. People otherwise caught doing so are liable to prosecution and may face police charges.