UNITED KINGDOM: HUMAN POWERED FLIGHT - Tony Hughes flies over 80 metres in annual Birdman flying contest

Tony Hughes of Marlborough in England won the 28th International Birdman of Bognor competition on Sunday (September 10) with a hang-glider flight of 84.4 metres (277 feet). Hughes was attempting to reach a distance of 100 metres to win a jackpot prize of 25,000 pounds sterling (46,500 U.S. dollars). While many of the early birdmen were classified as fun jumpers, wearing silly costumes with no aerodynamic potential at all, there were a small number of serious competitors hoping to glide or flap their way to the prize distance. The weather was fine and sunny which was perfect for the spectators on the beach of Bognor Regis, a seaside resort on England's south coast. However there was little wind which made the task more difficult for the serious contenders. One man taking it very seriously was David Moore from Connecticut, Unites States. Moore is sure that his human bat suit can achieve powered flight if the wind conditions are right. But he is always let down by the weather. Two years ago he achieved only eight metres of flight in slight breezes, and last year only managed six metres in poor wind. This year there was hardly any wind at all and only flew 5.3 metres. In the hang-glider competition Tony Hughes won with 84.4 metres, closely followed by Ron Freeman with 83.8 metres. Third was Steve Elkins with 0 metres. A quirky story.

ITN Source | September 12, 2006

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