Birdman Rally

Japan International Birdman Rally 2006

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 locations around the world, including Bognor Regis and Worthing in the United Kingdom, the Yarra River in Melbourne, Australia and Lake Biwa in Japan and in China, which has been created by regular entrants in the Bognor Regis event.

The oldest Birdman rally in the world started in Selsey, West Sussex, United Kingdom in 1971. Moved to Bognor Regis, where it was known as the International Bognor Birdman throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the event moved along the coast to Worthing in 2008 and in 2010 rallies are being held in both Bognor Regis and Worthing. The Australian competition first started in 1972 in Glenelg, South Australia but now occurs as a part of the Moomba festival in March. Started in 1977, the Japanese competition takes place every year in August, and the majority of competitors come from engineering programmes at universities.

External links

• International Bognor Birdman
• Worthing Birdman
• Video of Worthing Birdman 2009
• Video of Worthing Birdman 2009
• Video of Melbourne Birdman Rally 2007
• International Bognor Birdman
• Japan's Quirky Festivals: Japan International Birdman Rally
• Japan International Birdman Rally (in Japanese, Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation)
• Photo gallery of 2005 Japanese event
• Melbourne Birdman Rally

See also

• Japan Birdman rally (in Japanese)
• Japan Birdman rally (in Chinese)