Worthing Birdman 2010

[ron freeman]

Came second this year, there were some very interesting wings on show. One competitor shipped his wing from Hong Kong ! Sean Frawley a very succsessfull toy maker out there and his wing was the best on show but... he does not know how to fly !

The weather was poor on the Saturday with heavy showers and a 3 knot tail wind.. it really hurt when you hit the water hard, managed 26m (2nd)

Sunday was very different with a strong north easterly and showers...
There was an accident, a fun jumper broke her arm when a boxed helicopter took her out ! then Tony Hughes (former European hanggliding champion) crashed and thought he broke a few ribs ! but was ok.

This put the event way behind time (tidal restrictions) and there was still 10 jumpers to go, we normally get 10 minutes each to prepare on the take off platform this was cut to 4mins ! so after a hard crash on Saturday with a gusty 15 knot crosswind.. with very little time to sort yourself out I totally blew it !!!

Took off in the wrong direction (very turbulant) and stalled the left wing in the 90 degree left turn and hit the english channel very hard with only a 36 mts flight.

The winner - Toby Quantrill got it spot on, he took off 45 degrees out of the wind and flew 81mts towards the jackpot line (£30,000 this year) his wing a single surface clubman (30 yrs old) was borowed the night before from Southdown hanggliding school because his Avian Elan was wrecked by the recovery boat the day before, if only he had a better wing he would of done it..

Never mind sore, battered & bloody frustrated I will be there next year
after the 2010 Bognor Birdman Sept 11/12th

My charity this year was the 'Great North Air Ambulance'

Cheers Geordie flyer

[ken waterson]

battered and bloodied but still managed second and lived to tell the tale well done matey see you soon thanks for bracket

[Dave Hunter Snr]

Well done Ron, nowt the matter with second, and it's all for a good cause. Get the blueprints on the table for next year.

[Neil]

Congratulations Ron. Next time you will win the prize. I would like to make a contribution to your sponsorship fund . Pm me with the details.

[Wendy Patterson]

Chin up Ron I'm sure you will do it eventually so soldier on and do us proud next year

Col n wend