BRAVERY PERSONIFIED

[Gil Boyd]

You know I like to bring you something special each week.....well here it is, how a thing woman with probably low strength levels could achieve this feat of bravery is amazing. Many men would fail:

Information

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[GeeRam]

Her name was Gladys Ingle, and it was all staged, as can be seen from the multiple camera angles and locations.....BUT, it was all real, so no question about her bravery or utter stupidity depending on your point of view!!
Gladys was a wingwalker member of the 13 Black Cats, who were masters of aerial daredevil stunt work for Hollywood film industry in the 1920's as well as Barnstormers.

Remarkably considering her chosen profession in that era of no safety devices she lived to the ripe old age of 82.

[fjruple]

There is something sexy about a woman in riding breeches and boots. LOL!!

[Gil Boyd]

GeeRam,
Still thought she was brave..............how many blokes do you know would do that, I know my local tyre fitters are all over 20 stone....not them?

....................and it begs the question, if it was staged, who took the first wheel off, or are you saying it was taken off by her with a spanner and socket set??

[GeeRam]

No one would do that today......not even a pro stunt-person (not without wearing a 'chute at any rate)

She clearly had zero fear and was very confident of what she was doing, and as I said, she lived to a ripe old age.

Yes, it was staged, and filmed over multiple attempts as well, given a cameraman magically appears in the rear seat of the wheel-less aircraft to film her, and then disappears for the shots from the other aircraft. There was a discussion on this clip back in the late 90's on one of the US based 'warbird' forums that is now long defunct, and one guy had a lot of info on the old 20's & 30' Barnstormer acts, and he posted info of the Black Cats routines etc. Its a long time ago now, so I don't recall exactly how they took off with a wheel missing, I think it was on some sort of cradle mounted on a flat bed from memory.....long time ago though so can't recall exact details.

[matthanne1]

I would have probably dropped the lug wrench....

[Gil Boyd]

or...................................my socket set

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I would have probably dropped the lug wrench....

Or a load in the pants.

[Atticus Thraxx]

I know it shouldn't be, but it's all the more impressive that it's a woman doing it. Even at gunpoint, I'd probably decline. Crazy old timey people!

[Flying10uk]

Can anyone tell us about the aircraft, please, such as type? I am guessing WW1 vintage US government surplus?

I suspect that a female was chosen for the "stunt" because at that time a woman doing it made the whole thing much more sensational. Today if we saw someone walking on a wing of an aircraft mid-flight, transfer aircraft and then change the wheel/undercarriage we would probably just think that they were idiotically stupid, regardless of whether they are a man or a woman.

Around the same time in the UK, mid 1920's, some ex WW1 R.F.C./RAF aircraft were flown privately but weren't always in the best of mechanical condition. One of my late grans and her brother use to fly (never together) in aircraft such as an ex RAF Avro 504 that had been converted to a 3 seater, pilot and 2 passengers. The aircraft were allowed to fly or could get away with flying with mechanical issues such as frayed "Bowden Cables" that control the aircraft's control surfaces. I still have a damaged wooden propeller hanging up on the wall in my hose today that was patched-up with canvas tape etc and then it continued to be used until a replacement propeller was sourced and fitted.