'Birdmen’ aiming over water

Press, 17 January 1979, Page 13

'Birdmen’ aiming over water

Next month New Zealand's "birdmen” take to the air — and the water — in an attempt to fly 50 metres. “Birdman,” an annual event on New Zealand’s summer calendar, is run by South Pacific Television. This year it is being held at two places — Marsden Wharf in Auckland on February 11, and No. 4 Wharf, at Lyttelton, on February 18. The events will be screened as a “6.30 Special” in March. The programmes will be introduced by Andy Anderson. While all the fliers and

their machines will be identifiable not all will be easily explained. Andy will, however, interview the flieis before they take off and, in some cases, after they land. The producer of the programmes, Graeme Hodgson, says that the object of the exercise is not only to have fun but also to get some serious flying done. “There is an international prize of $5OOO to be won by anybody w v o can fly 50 metres and it would give me great pleasure to give it away,” he said. There are two classes

fliers can enter, but only competitors in the Birdman class are eligible to win the $5OOO. They are restricted to a wing span of eight metres, and, if they are using a flying machine, to a length of six metres, and it must be powered by the sole efforts of the contestant.

Competitors in the Unlimited class must also power their own machines but they are not restricted in size or wing span.

There will be a prize of travel luggage for the greatest flight of the day in each class; and for the best flight over all the winner of the Birdman class will receive a return trip for two to Queensland, and the winner of the Unlimited class a return trip for one to Queensland. There is also a watch to be won by the most novel entry and" there is a further prize for the best

young entry at both venues.

Safety is an important factor for the smooth running of "Birdman.” So far it has a good record; safety scrutineers will be on

hand. Members of the Auckland and Christchurch hang-gliding clubs will determine whether the flying machines are safe; life guards will be in the water the whole time (although it is a pre-requisite of entry that competitors can swim and are wearing a life jacket); and jet boats will be on hand for speedy recovery of both flier and machine. To finish the day off, after the last flight has taken off from the wharf at Lyttelton, Andy Anderson will show everyone how it’s done in a contraption designed especially for him by Ross McKenzie of SPTV’s Christchurch design department.