Category Archive: Wing Walker

  1. Kirsten

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    Professional wingwalker since 2018

    Kirsten adores displaying with her fellow wingwalkers in the air; performing handstands, climbing around the aircraft and zooming across the globe in a whirlwind of vintage glamour.

    Kirsten’s background specialising in trapeze and aerial circus helps her when on the wing doing handstands and spinning in the rig. When not climbing around vintage aircraft, you can find her teaching aerial circus, cooking, practicing yoga, and focusing on her artwork. She is an adrenaline junkie and loves doing aerobatics standing on top of the aircraft – much preferring being on the outside as opposed to sat in the cockpit!

    She feels privileged to have had so many wonderful adventures with the team, and considers herself a ‘collector’ of unique views; her most memorable being Loop-the-Loops over the Gobi Desert at sunset! The romantic feel of soaring through the skies is unbeatable, especially when the air is warm and you can wear a T-shirt! Kirsten can’t wait to see even more of the world upside down in such an exhilarating manner.

     

  2. Emma

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    Professional wingwalker since 2021

    Marathon running, shark cage diving, kite surfing, parachute jumping and now wingwalking!

    Emma is an adrenaline junkie and loves anything extreme.

    She was beyond thrilled to be given the opportunity to join the team and join her best friend, our very own Lead Professional Wingwalker Kirsten, performing in the skies!

    A lover of all things active, Emma has been dancing since the age of three and fills her free time with morning walks, long distance runs and sunset yoga on the common.

    When not out and about, Emma will be tutoring English and watching films.

  3. Libby

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    Professional wingwalker since 2004

    Libby started wingwalking in 2004 when the team was sponsored by Utterly Butterly. In 2008 she qualified as an Airline Pilot and took a break away to fly private jets all around Europe. Deciding that commercial flying didn’t involve nearly enough loops for her, she is out of the cockpit and back up on the wing again and is loving every minute of it!

    Libby comes from a family of pilots so aviation is in her blood. She even married an RAF Typhoon pilot who she met whilst performing at Duxford Airshow!

    Away from aviation, Libby recently returned to the UK after 5 years living in the Middle East. It was there that she discovered a love for scuba diving. She also enjoys playing squash and skiing. Sport has always been a really big part of Libby’s life and she enjoys keeping fit – something that proves to be very useful when pulling 4G at the bottom of a loop!

    Libby’s favourite part of wingwalking is the amazing weightless feeling at the very top of a stall turn – a lovely moment of peace before roaring back into 100mph again!

  4. Gemma

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    Professional wingwalker since 2019

    Gemma continues to excel as the Formation Wingwalker, with the extremely important job of keeping the timing of the Wingwalkers perfect. She has wingwalked throughout the UK and Europe, with her favourite view so far flying along the Jurassic Coast surrounded by our wonderful vintage aircraft.

    Some of Gemma’s favourite moves include the ‘Goose’ pass, where the Wingwalkers unstrap from the main harness and sit on the leading edge, as well as the aircraft performing barrel rolls. Gemma is used to performing such elegant moves due to her background as a Professional Dancer, previously touring shows in Panama and Crete. Gemma has also ventured as far as India to qualify as a multi style yoga teacher.

    Gemma loves being part of the team, and is eager to explore more of the world on top of the wing. The feeling of exhilaration she gets from her job is unmatched and she cannot wait to continue her journey being a Professional Wingwalker!

  5. Katie

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    Professional wingwalker since 2017

    Katie is a local girl born and bred in the Cotswolds. Growing up on the family farm isn’t always so glamorous and her time leading up to the airshow season will be spent doing what she enjoys, lambing! Keen on sport, she is a avid netballer, and plays in the Country Premier League. She has 6 years of gymnastics experience behind her, which really helps her perform the moves on the plane. The vintage planes are a real delight to work on, a bonus for Katie as she loves the 30’s and 40’s and takes part in the always energetic Swing and Jive dancing. The re-enactment societies and vintage villages at the shows are the highlight!

    After two seasons full time, Katie has travelled as far as China and the Philippines, as well as up and down Europe. Flying everywhere in an open cockpit can be gruelling at times, sometimes fighting the weather, however the bond between pilot and wingwalker never fails, passing sweets and snacks between cockpits, whilst pointing out landmarks only visible from the sky, as well the occasional double rainbow. Katie says there have been many highs from travelling, but nothing yet has beaten flying to Switzerland through the South of France and Italy, the sun being so hot they could fly in short sleeves, and the scent of rosemary hanging in the air.

    Katie’s favourite part of being a wingwalker is swivelling and hanging upside down! She says there is no feeling like the first flight back after the winter. The adrenaline rush mixed with high speeds and handstands, is one that can’t be described, she can’t help but shout out a declaration of elation!

     

  6. Gina

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    Professional wingwalker since 2017

    Gina is a qualified freefly skydiver and loves the feeling of being in the sky. She has spent numerous hours
    practicing for her skydiving in the wind tunnel so is used to moving in high wind speeds in all types of flying orientations which will help her climbing around the aircraft in flight.

    Gina always knew this would be the job for her when she first saw a picture of the team performing over the Palm in Dubai. There was no looking back from that moment on and after watching a promotional video that was posted on the Breitling Wingwalkers website, she approached the team and began the application process immediately.

    Outside of skydiving and wingwalking, Gina enjoys a number of outdoor activities including skiing, scuba diving and rock climbing.

  7. Nikita

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    Professional wingwalker since 2014

    Nikita graduated from Cardiff University where she studied Psychology and Sociology. After moving back home to Northleach in 2013 she was thrilled to find an advert in the local paper for a part time wingwalker. As a child, Nikita went to many airshows and was frequently a spectator at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford. She says she was always captivated by the magic of the team and the amazing display, but never thought it would be possible to be a part of it.

    Her family have always been involved in the aviation world, her mother and father were both in the RAF and her father continues to fly today for an airline. Because of her parents love of flying they were extremely excited when Nikita said she wanted to apply for the wingwalking position. However they thought she was mad wanting to be strapped to the outside of the plane rather than be inside it!

    Nikita says the thrill of wingwalking provides a sensation that very few are lucky enough to experience and nothing compares to the speed and exhilaration of diving into the sky and pulling out of a loop.

    Nikita is also a primary school teacher. Her pupils are always a little surprised when they first learn about her weekend job on the wing!