IF THE thought of clambouring around an aircraft in flight performing gymnastic moves on the wing as it loops above thousands of spectators is your idea of a good day at the office, then a job at the world's only aerobatic formation wingwalking team could be for you.

AeroSuperBatics, based just outside Cirencester at RFC Rendcomb Airfield, is looking to add to its team of talented wingwalkers and promises an “exciting yet challenging” role for the right candidate.

The successful candidate will join a tight knit small team, that includes pilots and fellow wingwalkers.

The company was set up 30 years ago by founder Vic Norman, 70, who had a passion for aircraft from a young age, when his father owned an aeroplane which Vic frequently flew in.

He bought his first vintage aircraft in the late 1970s, a Stampe bi-plane, and in 1982 took the next step and bought a Zlin 50 which he used to perform in at over 800 public displays.

In 1987 Vic took the plunge and set up the wingwalking business that is such a familiar sight to anyone who has attended a major airshow.

The company now has six Boeing Stearman bi-planes and a team of five pilots to call on. Vic himself still flies occasionally.

The pilots include two former Red Arrows pilots, a mark of the precision and skill needed to handle to aircraft. “We start at 900ft and can fly at just 30ft above the ground, so our pilots need a tremendous amount of skill. We need fantastic pilots,” Vic explained.

The wingwalking business has soared in recent years, and the company now has a truly global reach. “Initially our business was UK and Europe airshows, but the world has now opened up. We are now regularly sending two of our planes all over the world, including Japan, Australia, UAE, China and India.”

Two of the company’s aircraft are now in the Philippines and at the end of the month another two will go to China and stay there for the rest of the year touring around airshows. “Business is booming in the rest of the world. They want us as a main attraction. They have never seen anything like us,” Vic said.

It falls upon the team of five wingwalkers to provide the magic and the showbiz pazzazz at the shows, performing a breathtaking sequence of acrobatic manoeuvres and handstands whilst strapped to the top wings of the aircraft. The wingwalkers experience speeds of up to 150 mph and G force winds of up to 4G.

Emily Guilding, 32, has been a wingwalking for four years. “I came into it because my sister was a wingwalker and I was envious of the fun she was having so when a role came up I applied. In the summer there are airshows almost every weekend, and in between this I help with the wing walking experiences that are offered to the public. It is great because almost anyone can have a go and it is great fun.

“No two days are the same in this job and I am off to the Philippines next week. Doing a show is exhausting and you need good flexibility and core strength. You have to be really fit. We often have women with a dance or gymnastics background.

“When I first started in the job there was an intense period of training. We have very strict safety procedures to follow.

“You need a head for heights for this job but you also need to be level headed and safety conscious.”

Safety is paramount at AeroSuperBatics. “ Safety is key for both the team and the crowd. “We don’t want to employ people who are fearless. We want people who are the complete opposite and are not prepared to take risks,” Vic explained.

The wingwalkers have historically all been women generally because of the strict size and weight requirements. Professional wingwalkers cannot be taller than 5ft4 and weigh more than eight and half stone.

“The fact that we wear lycra catsuits could also rule some men out!,” Emily joked.

With business hitting new heights, AeroSuperBatics is set to be a firm fixture above the skies of the Cotswolds for many years to come.

“The whole family can relate to us,” Vic explained. “We are like a flying circus.”

  • To apply for the role of wingwalker email a CV, photograph and covering letter explaining why you would make a great wingwalker along with height and weight details to: biplane@aerosuperbatics.com.
  • Visit aerosuperbatics.com for more.