THERE was fun, frivolity and epic falls when the Birdman Rally hit Perth’s shores, with thousands flocking to watch competitors try to fly in the name of charity.

The annual community event in the ’70s and ’80s challenged people to travel 50m in an unpowered aircraft and the entrants’ crazy antics – as well as their spectacular flops – made for great entertainment.

Yanchep resident of 43 years Tom Darcey said the Channel Seven initiative at Two Rocks Marina attracted a crowd of 16,000 in 1978 – a time when just 1800 people lived between Yanchep and Two Rocks.

Camera Icon Droves of families watched all the action in the marina. Wanneroo Regional Museum, City of Wanneroo. Credit: Supplied / Supplied

“It was one big party and the amount of money injected into the town on that one day would have been phenomenal,” he said.

“The crowd was unbelievable – you could just about walk across the boats in the marina.”

Camera Icon A costume-clad competitor takes the plunge. Wanneroo Regional Museum, City of Wanneroo. Credit: Supplied / Supplied

He said the army built a huge ramp as a launching pad for the contenders, some dressed in novelty costumes or sporting a home-made contraption.

“At one of them, they set a 1965 Falcon station wagon on fire and drove it off the end. I don’t know if that car is still in the marina; I presume not,” he laughed.

“A lot of people tried flapping their arms and just fell off the end – they had lifesavers at the bottom – but there were a few who took it pretty seriously and had a real good go.”

Camera Icon On a wing and a prayer. Credit: Supplied / Supplied

Mr Darcey, who operated the Two Rocks Service Centre for eight years, welded an aluminium-framed glider for then marina manager Harold Northwood to put to the test.

“I think it flew about 10ft, if you can call it flying, so not that far at all,” he said.

Contestants paid a $10 entry fee, which was donated to Telethon, and competed to win a $10,000 cash prize for the first person to fly 150ft.

Local clubs also fundraised, with the Lions Club selling 200 cartons of beer and cricket club selling crayfish rolls “hand over fist” at the event.

Camera Icon There was only one road into Two Rocks and a spattering of residences when it hosted the Birdman Rally in the ’70s. The West Australian. Credit: Supplied / The West Australian

The 1978 rally, which Mr Darcey attended with his wife Jan and children Kate and Paul, featured a jam-packed program including a parachute jump by SAS soldiers, surf ski jousting, personality boat race and more.

“It was the best and at the end of the day, everyone on board the boats got their deck hoses out and squirted each other with water and there was all sorts of carry-on.”

Mr Darcey said the rally would never make a comeback due to concerns about safety and marina pollution.