First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on March 6, 1978.
Twenty-three men in their flying machines set off to the tune of a similar name at Paradise Gardens, northwest of Sydney, yesterday in the Pepsi Birdman Rally. But a quick cool dip in the Hawkesbury River in front of hundreds of fascinated spectators, rather than a pleasant flight, was the order of the day.
The winner of the Birdman Rally competition at Cattai was Robert White of Allambie Heights who flew 11 metres in his white monoplane before ditching in the water, March 5, 1978.Credit:Martin Brannan
For $10,000- in prize money, contestants had to take-off from a five-metre-high platform above the river and remain aloft for 50 metres.
Their efforts were spectacular but none succeeded. Robert White, 21, student, of Allambie Heights, came the closest – at 11 metres – to win $1,000 in cash, a P & O cruise for two and a portable colour television set.
Dean Gualerzi of Hurstville who managed 7 meters in his “Spruce Goose”. March 5, 1978.Credit:Martin Brannan
Three men, however, bagged the $100 cash prizes for the zaniest, the most spectacular and the best prepared craft. They were judged by a former BOAC pilot. Captain Norman Bristow, and a 2UW announcer, Malcolm T. Elliott.
Richard Colby, an actor, who is to appear in the television series Chopper Squad, was the zaniest, with his multi-coloured “headicopter” — with propellers attached to the head and back.
Winner of today’s Birdman rally competition at Cattai was Robert White of Allambie Heights flying 11 meters in his white monoplane before ditching in the water. March 5, 1978.Credit:Martin Brannan
Barry Blackman, a boat builder of Darlington, was most spectacular with his paper Silver Streak, and Richard Silva, of Bankstown, was deemed best prepared with u model he called Fenix 267.
The entrants had taken anything from one hour to three weeks to prepare their craft from such things as bicycle pedals, newspapers, spruce broomsticks, bamboo and selfraising flour. They described them as monoplanes, biplanes and gliders, although an “orinthopter,” requiring a human wing flap of 120 to the minute and two sets of wings, also found its way into the act.
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