Ep 3. Wing Walker

In Air Aces season 1 episode 3, titled "Wing Walker," viewers are taken back to the 1920s, when daredevil pilots who performed stunts on the wing of a biplane were all the rage. The episode focuses on the life and career of Ethal Dare, the most prominent wing walker of her time.

Ethal's story begins in 1920, when the aviation industry was still in its infancy. She got her start as a stunt woman for Hollywood movies before transitioning to wing walking. Wing walking involved performing various stunts on the top wing of a biplane as it flew through the air. Some of the most popular stunts included standing on one foot, waving to the crowd, and even hanging by one hand while the plane did loops and rolls.

Ethal was fearless and quickly became one of the most popular wing walkers in the country. She traveled from state to state, performing for crowds at airshows and county fairs. Not only was she a talented stunt woman, but she was also a savvy businesswoman. She negotiated her own contracts, charging upwards of $2,000 per performance, which at the time was a significant amount of money.

Although Ethal was a daredevil, she was also a trailblazer. She was one of the first women to perform as a wing walker, a feat that was almost unheard of in the male-dominated aviation industry. She was also one of the first people to experiment with air-to-ground communication, using hand signals to communicate with the pilot in the cockpit.

Despite the dangers involved in wing walking, Ethal was determined to carve out a career for herself in the aviation industry. She even survived a horrific accident in 1922 when the biplane she was performing on inadvertently took off without her safety belt being secured. She fell nearly 50 feet to the ground but survived her injuries and went on to continue her career as a wing walker.

Throughout the episode, viewers are treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a wing walker. They learn how dangerous the profession was, with performers often falling to their deaths during stunts gone wrong. But they also see the thrill and excitement that Ethal and other wing walkers experienced while performing in front of crowds of adoring fans.

The episode is filled with archival footage of Ethal's performances, allowing viewers to see first-hand the incredible stunts she performed. It also features interviews with aviation experts and historians who shed light on the impact that wing walkers like Ethal had on the aviation industry as a whole.

Overall, "Wing Walker" is a fascinating look at a little-known aspect of aviation history. Viewers will leave the episode with a newfound appreciation for the bravery and skill of wing walkers like Ethal Dare, who risked their lives to entertain crowds and push the boundaries of what was possible in the world of aviation.