“Hahaha!
Oh, yes!
Oh, wow!”
Whoever said that walking
can help you live a longer life
wasn’t referring to this.
You’re stepping on the wing of a biplane
soaring through the sky.
Good luck trying
to maintain your balance
while enduring wind speeds similar to
a category five hurricane.
Wait, what was that?
I hope you have quick reflexes.
A close encounter with a bird
and it's game over.
This is a daredevil sport.
Not only are you taking steps
onto those wings,
but you’re also expected to perform
some stunts.
Like handstands,
and any other flashy acrobatic move
you can do during the 25-minute flight.
All of that while standing 460 m (1,500 ft)
above the ground.
Wing walking a centimeter (.3 in)
below that is forbidden
by the U.S. government.
Going up against those strong winds
won't be an easy task.
You’ll find yourself using every muscle
in your body,
even those you didn’t know you had.
The last thing you want
is to get caught in bad shape.
Stretching and exercising regularly
weeks before the event
is the smart way to go.
Do your cardio.
Performing those stunts while you
experience up to 4Gs of force
will tire you out pretty quickly.
Weightlifters have compared
their wing walking experience
to lifting over 90 kg (200 lb).
It’s showtime.
The biplane has reached a height
of 914 m (3,000 ft)
and you’re about to do your thing.
Let's take things slowly.
You do not want to slip on your way
out of the cockpit.
Your right foot should be in the front
of the second cockpit window.
Be careful of the glass.
If it shatters, the shards could become
deadly projectiles injuring the pilot.
Remember, your life is in their hands.
Use the handgrips
to climb onto the wing
and once up,
strap yourself to the pole
so you’re secured.
Now you can start walking.
A big part of the wing is made of fabric,
so you are limited as to
where you can move.
Look for small black dots.
You’re allowed to step on those
but not with your whole foot,
only your toes.
Grab the pole, lean back
and lift one of your legs over it.
Yes, just as if you're flying
on a broomstick.
This will be hard to do
since there are metal wires
that can get in the way
and lifting your leg at that angle
can be a little awkward.
Remember all that stretching
you did weeks ago?
Time to put it to the test.
At such extreme heights you might think
about wearing a parachute,
but that would just make
what you're doing even more dangerous.
Imagine if you accidentally deploy it
while you’re performing?
You, strapped to a plane with a propellor,
as a parachute swirls around.
It's a disaster in the making.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t
wear safety gear, though.
A harness is your best option
to go along with keeping
three points of contact with the plane
or wires at all times.
Hold onto the wires with your hands,
and keep your other foot on the plane.
This is essential for your stability.
Sure, everyone loves
a good old pair of cargo pants,
but you might want to consider
leaving them at home for this.
Remember, up there,
you can experience wind speeds
of up to 241 km/h (150 mph).
You don’t want to give wind packing
that much punch something to grab onto.
Hoodies,
loose pants
or baggy clothes are a bad idea.
Go for a tight-fitting outfit for this one.
You survived wing walking
and checked another thing
off your bucket list.
Now let's try bungee jumping.
Sounds exhilarating,
but would you know what to do
if the rope breaks?
Well, we're always ready to catch you.