Melbourne's Birdman Rally

Thousands of people line the banks of an Australian river to watch home-made flying devices take to the air in a quirky competition on 13th March. The charity Birdman Rally held at Melbourne's Yarra River involved participants flying homemade gliders without mechanical assistance. The contestants jumped off a four-metre high platform above the river, staying in the air for as long as possible before crashing into the water. Several of the 12 competitors turned up in colourful and bizarre costumes, but it was Michael Paul who has taken part in the event every year since 2005 and had won nine times flying the longest distance. Paul, who reportedly reached 17 metres before his inevitable crash into the river, had also raised more than Aus$12,000 (US$9,075) in honour of his brother Lucas, who has multiple sclerosis.