Wing walking how much

Most of the photos you see were taken from their cameras. If you plan on doing this and can afford it, I highly recommend doing the full course.

For all the obvious reasons, you simply do not just wing walk. While the training is not complicated, it is absolutely necessary, so you can safely get out of the cockpit and maneuver your way around the airplane without hurting yourself or damaging the plane.

The Stearman is a thing of beauty. As part of the wing walker package, you begin your day at the Mason Wing Walking Academy meeting with and going through movements on the ground with Marilyn Mason.

Along with her husband, Mike Mason, they run the academy and offer this unique experience to the public. Before you take to the air, you start with a visualization exercise and walk through every part of the flight in your head starting with getting into the cockpit. Get in, buckle up and picture the take-off. You unbuckle yourself from the seat belt and then re-buckle it to prevent the belt from flying around during the aerobatics part.

Slide up from my seat, grab the left overhead hold and then the right overhead hold. Next you stand up and place the back part of left foot on the back of my seat and the rest of it on the side of the plane. From here, you move your left hand forward to the front cable, push up from my right leg to get your left foot onto the original left overhead hold and slide forward. Twisting your body to the left makes it easier to bring your right leg up to the top wing. Here, you slide the right foot into the left foothold and shimmy up with part of my back against the rack, before transferring your right foot over to the right foothold.

Now you can stand up completely and move your left foot into the left foothold. Use this moment to collect yourself before releasing any cable holds to reach behind you for the waist belt hardness.

Again, breathe. With the belt behind you, you blindly feel for the latch, unclip, and bring the belt to my front of your waist and clip in. Tight the right side, tighten the left side and double check both the latch and the tightness of the straps a second time before you give the thumbs up to Mike to indicate that you are secured and ready for the aerobatics.

It sounds more complicated than it really was. Essentially, the moves are designed so you can almost instinctively and gracefully move into position while feeling as secured as possible.

By the 4th time doing this on the actual plane, I pulled it off with my eyes closed just in case something happened with my contacts and only by feel. After the series of aerobatics, Mike would level out and you can enjoy the flight for a few minutes before he wags the plane to signal the climb back down.

The moves would be done almost in reverse with a few small exceptions. Think Harry Potter during the Quidditch tournament on a broomstick. Once again, you train with every hand and foot movement planned out. Then put your right hand on the left overhead hand hold and slide up onto the seat. Your left hand should also find one of the wing cross bars for support. And there was that. The wing is mostly a lightweight frame wrapped with fabric. Along the front of the wing, there are marked spots that have ribbed support.

These are designated spots where you are allowed to put your weigh on during the walk. Wing walking involves leaving the cockpit and climbing about on the aircraft.

Wing riding is being strapped into a fixture on the wing prior to takeoff and remaining there throughout the flight. Safety is a priority for us. If an engine were to fail at a low altitude, the safest place to be is in your seat with a seat belt fastened. An incident that might otherwise have resulted in little or no injuries would likely result in serious injuries if a forced landing was attempted with a wing walker on the upper wing.

Is video available? Yes, unedited video and stills are included. Are advanced classes available? Might I get air sick? Due to the abundance of fresh air and the gentleness of the aerobatics, we have not had anyone get air sick. Can the pilot and wing walker communicate? Communication is done with hand signals and eye contact. Thumbs up if you are doing well, thumbs down if you are getting tired. We have a weight limit of lbs and a certain degree of agility is required. Some have chosen to limit their wing walking to either just the lower or upper wing due to a physical limitation.

We encourage all interested to review one of our online videos to decide if wing walking is something they feel they can accomplish. The minimum age to wing walk with us is In the interest of safety, all who are considering this endeavor should thoughtfully evaluate their own level of fitness and ability. Can I find a job as a wing walker?

While there is not a large demand for wing walkers, it certainly is a rewarding career to those who pursue it. How do I get to Sequim? If you have flown into the Seattle-Tacoma airport you can rent a car and drive to the downtown Seattle ferry dock to catch the Seattle Bainbridge ferry.

Any of those choices will take around 2 to 2. It is a scenic trip out to the beautiful Olympic Peninsula. Coming from Vancouver Island, take the ferry to Port Angeles and we will pick you up. Coming from the Vancouver B. No deposit required. Mason Wing Walking alumni includes athletes, executives, soldiers and grandmothers. A particularly proud moment for her was training the world's youngest wing walker 10 year old. Whether you are a professional football player or soccer mom looking for a challenge, Marilyn is the one to see.

Over the years Mike has followed the adventure; sky writing over Japan, bush flying in Alaska, Grand Canyon tour flights, flying cargo planes and worldwide aircraft delivery flights. Mike was taught to fly by his grandfather, air show pilot and Lockheed test pilot, Sammy Mason. Hollywood Hawks traveling air show group, lead by Sammy Mason. Mike was impressed with this aircraft and its film roles. Little did he know one day he and his wife would own that very same airplane, continuing its tradition of film work and giving it a new task; taking new wing walkers up for their first wing walk!

Both of them made me feel safe and excited about my thrill seeking, wing walking adventure. This was truly a bucket list item that has been fulfilled. All of this leads to a sober, yet secure exhilarating experience. With the enjoyment that wing walking offers for both the novice and the expert, it is no wonder that for many who experience it, it becomes their passion. For everyone involved, from the onlooker, to the pilot, to those who walk the wing, the blend of the thrill, the challenge and the skill are a great inspiration.

The art of wing walking is not just something to try, it is something to find fulfillment in. WING WALKING As a spectator it is inspiring to watch people perform difficult acts in any field, but even more so to watch them achieving challenging feats while flying at speeds of up to mph as wing walkers do.

It seems they are defying gravity as they maneuver around their airplane, navigating around the top and bottom wings as the pilot guides their plane through loops, rolls and even flying upside down. Wing Walking Photos.