Contestants in Moscow's Red Bull Flugtag contest were ready to crash and get wet yesterday as their home-made aircraft, in a variety of shapes from large animals and cartoon characters to representations of the US dollar and Russian rouble, went plummeting into a river in Moscow.

With little more than ambition, and a wing and a prayer, contestants bravely climbed a high ramp and went running across a podium before they quickly came down.

Flugtag means "flight day" in German, but all of these craft ultimately splash into the waters below.

The contest brought costumed contestants from as far away as St Petersburg and Tver to try their skills as aircraft designers and aviators.

Teams built their flying machines with three criteria in mind: how far it will fly, and the creativity and artistry behind the design.

On contest day, teams are also judged by a short performance on the takeoff ramp.

The contest has run in Russia for 15 years, drawing a large number of participants who have been coming up with increasingly exaggerated designs.

The contest started in Vienna in 1992 and now plays out annually in more than 100 locations.