Frequently Asked Questions
What is the tuition fee? One person, introductory course, upper wing only: $850
One person, full course, upper and lower wing: $1250
The tuition fee covers training plus video and pictures. We are proud to offer our students their first wing walking flight free of charge at the completion of the training course. Deposit required for groups of three or more. Are there
any prerequisites to enrollment? No previous wing walking experience is required. Just call or email to enroll.
360-775-1213 206-369-9924 [email protected]
What time of year is best? July, August and September are the best months in Sequim. We have had students come from the local Seattle/Vancouver area in the off season by “cherry picking” a good weather weekend. What should I wear? We recommend comfortable clothing, nothing too baggy. Dress in layers as the temperature can change quickly here. Wear narrow tennis shoes (Converse style), avoid wide-soled running shoes. Sequim, WA is a long trip from my home, is this offered anywhere else? To the best of our knowledge we are the only wing walking school in the world. There are wing rides available in the U.K. What is the difference between wing walking and wing riding? 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. Why don’t you offer “wing rides”? Safety is a priority for us.
“Wing rides” require take-off and landing the aircraft with a person on the wing. 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 there a safety cable? Yes, a safety harness and cable are used. Do wing walkers use parachutes? For safety reasons, wing walkers do not use parachutes. If a parachute were to inadvertently deploy while wing walking, the results would likely be disastrous entanglement with the aircraft. Is wing walking safe? Wing walking with a safety harness and cable is in itself relatively safe. As with many outdoor activities and flying in general there are inherent risks. We take steps to mitigate these risk such as conducting wing walking flights at a safe altitude, use of safety equipment and thorough training. We are not operating in the air show environment so we can operate at higher altitudes which permits much greater safety margins. How long is the wing walking flight? The average wing walking flight is approximately 25 minutes which includes two sets of aerobatics, one on the upper wing and one on the lower wing. The length of each aerobatic wing walking session is largely determined by the stamina of the student. Some students request a longer “straight and level” rest period after an aerobatic session. How long is the training? The average student is ready in 4-6 hours of practice on the ground. Some prefer to practice all day and fly in the evening. What is the routine? We climb up to around 3500' and power back to a nice slow glide so as to give you a comfortable trek up to the upper wing rack. Once you are secured, we throttle up for a series of aerobatics which includes rolls and hammerheads. Then we throttle back again and you climb back into the cockpit. While you rest a spell we climb to regain any altitude lost during the aerobatics and glide. Then we repeat the process for the lower wing, lying prone on the "javelin". We wind down the flight with a gentle slow level flight with you still on the wing, giving you a chance to soak in the experience. Is video available? Yes, basic video and photos are included. We have four cameras mounted at various angles on the airplane. A micro sd card is provided. Are advanced classes available? Yes, many people fly two days in a row to reinforce their skills and expand their “boundaries.” Students are always welcome back to conquer new challenges. Has anyone ever fallen? We have not had anyone fall. Might I get Air Sick? Due to the abundance of fresh air and the gentleness of the aerobatics, students rarely 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. Are there any weight restrictions? Yes, 230lbs, 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 18. The best results are with individuals who are actively engaged in activities such as mountain climbing/biking, skydiving. 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. Can anyone wing walk? Wing Walking is not for everyone. While a large variety of people have learned to wing walk with us, there is an element of mental and physical challenge to it. Flexibility, strength and stamina are critical to successful completion of our course. Our training consists of a dozen or more climbs out of the cockpit, up onto the upper wing rack and back down into the cockpit. One must be able to complete these practice climbs and still have ample energy left for the actual wing walk. We have had a number of people come a long way to wing walk with us who, sadly, have been unable to complete the training. A common factor has been advanced age. One should thoughtfully view our videos to determine their own suitability.
