An exciting new addition has today been announced for Torbay Airshow – the Breitling Wingwalkers.

The world’s only aerobatic formation wingwalking team will join the impressive line up taking to the skies over the weekend.

With a breathtaking military and civilian flying programme planned and exciting on the ground activities for all the family on Friday 10 June, 2pm to 10pm, Saturday 11 June, 10am to 10pm, and Sunday 12 June, 10am to 6pm - this is an event you will not want to miss!

Breitling Wingwalkers have performed at over 2500 different events and are seen live by over 6 million spectators each year in the UK alone.
A Torbay Council spokesperson said: “Performing a breathtaking sequence of acrobatic manoeuvres and handstands while strapped to the top wings of the team's beautiful Boeing Stearman 1940 biplanes, the displays are breathtaking.

“The pilots fly the aircraft through a well rehearsed energetic routine of dazzling aerobatics and close formation flypasts as the wingwalkers wave at the crowd. These manoeuvres include, loops, rolls, stall turns and even inverted flight! During all of this, the wingwalkers experience speeds of up to 150 mph and 'G' forces of up to 4G!”

UK based AeroSuperBatics who operate the Breitling Wingwalkers have been specialists in display flying for over 30 years and operate one of the best known and loved civilian air display acts in Europe.
Wingwalkers were the idea of an American flier called Ormer Locklear who in 1918 came up with a stunt that was guaranteed to wow the crowds: he would climb out of the aeroplane and walk along the wing and even climb from one aeroplane onto another.

Not surprisingly there were a few mishaps in the early days. Ormer himself came a cropper while working on a film. The early wing walk pioneers were operating without a safety net: no parachutes, no safety wires tethering them to the aircraft. A slip of the foot and it was the high dive for our brave showman or showgirl. In 1938 the authorities in America decided that parachutes had to be worn.

Today, the wing walkers are safely tethered to their Boeing Stearman biplanes, but the glamour, spectacle, sounds and atmosphere are just the same as they were when young and brave Ormer Locklear went for a dramatic 10ft stroll along the wing of his warplane in 1918.

So far, military aircraft confirmed for the airshow includes the world’s premier aerobatic team The Red Arrows, as well as the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4, King Air B200, and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight aircraft - the Hawker Hurricane, Avro Lancaster and Supermarine Spitfire as well as The Tigers Freefall Parachute Display Team, the flagship team for the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.

The Blades, a full-time civilian aerobatic display team based in the UK and made up entirely of former RAF Red Arrows pilots will be attending the airshow. Renowned worldwide for flying close formation aerobatics to the highest level within a dynamic and cutting edge display, The Blades currently hold a world record in formation looping.

Also attending are the Yakovlevs flying the world’s most powerful Yak 52, known as the Super 52. This world championship aerobatic aircraft is much loved for its sparkling performance, grace and precision formation flying.

A brand new aerobatic team will be appearing on Friday night – AeroSPARX - a pyrotechnic-equipped formation flying team which will thrill the crowds.

British jet-powered training and light-attack aircraft, the Strikemaster will also take to the skies. The BAC Strikemaster will be piloted by Mark Petrie, a former RAF pilot who also now flies the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft with British Airways.

The Gyro flying display, also known as a Gyrocopter or Gyroplane, can also be seen over the weekend. This unusual aircraft is great to watch and is described by the pilots as fun to fly. The rotor blades of the gyro are completely freewheeling in flight, being driven solely by the air going up through the rotor disk.

This year will be the first time Torbay has held an air show and over 150,000 visitors are expected to watch the action unfold over the weekend.

To date, Bristol Street Motors, Devonshire Windows, Hyundai Torbay, Our Garage, Inter-Line Building Supplies, Francis Clark, Budget and TDA have been signed up as official sponsors by the official event commercial team Rocket Fuel Media.

Bristol Street Motors is sponsoring the Hurricane Hangout hospitality marquee and Devonshire Windows the VIP hospitality marquee. Francis Clark has sponsored the night flying element of the airshow.

Hyundai Torbay and Our Garage have shared sponsorship of the Fly-by Family Fun hospitality marquee and Inter-Line Building Supplies is sponsoring the Airshow Live Stage.

The Coastal Communities Fund has provided a start up grant to part-fund the cost of the airshow. Other income is being generated by Rocket Fuel Media, from the sale of sponsorship, concessions and exhibitor space.

Sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities are still available, to find out more visit www.torbayairshow.com

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