IF you want the job done right, give it to a woman.
Hard to believe that stunts such as these used to be accomplished frequently. Does anyone recall the air-to-air refueling of one biplane to another using a long hose? Those people had to be either fearless or just “plane crazy”.
This woman has more guts than a sausage factory. Take a look at this film. Fabulous footage, although grainy due to time and bad equipment in those days compared to today, but what nerve this gal had.
Gladys Ingles was a member of a barnstorming troupe called the 13 Black Cats in the 1920s. Ingles was a wing walker; in this film, she shows her fearlessness in classic barnstorming fashion to save an airplane that has lost one of its main wheels.
Ingles is shown with a replacement wheel being strapped to her back and then off she goes as “Up She Goes,” a duet from the era, provides the soundtrack. In the film, Ingles transfers herself from the rescue plane to the one missing the main landing gear tire.
She then expertly works herself down to the undercarriage only a few feet from a spinning prop. It’s certainly a feat many mechanics wouldn’t even try on the ground with the engine running.
She died at age 82.click on below…………
By: Student Pilot - 27th January 2013 at 05:27
They just happened to have a camera to catch the repair?
I can see the “Reality programs” now stretching the just under three minutes of footage into an hours programming. With modern programming there is about 20 minutes actual show with the other 40 minutes being self promotion and advertising. With expurt opinion of how it was actually done and the perils of aerial repair, crossing to blurred out of focus “Reenactments”. After crossing back from an add break of 8 minutes they have to show 5 minutes of what happened before the add break just in case you missed it. The bit of actually putting the wheel on would be in the last 3 minutes of the program. 😀
By: flyernzl - 27th January 2013 at 05:13
Yes, I would pick it as a pre-arranged stunt.
Gutsy, nevertheless.
By: Stan Smith - 27th January 2013 at 03:38
Spoked wheels were standard on the Jenny. They were fitted with a fabric cover over the spokes for less drag and less chance of mud buildup.
By: Scouse - 27th January 2013 at 02:04
Health and safety wouldn’t allow it now:(
By: car476 - 26th January 2013 at 20:58
Nah….having none of it. Early attempt at CGI !
By: Timc63 - 26th January 2013 at 20:38
Great piece of footage and as you rightly point out a “stunt”. Just wondering how many takes it took to replace the “tire” until they realised that a spoked wheel would be lighter to carry and do the job!?
Nevertheless, superb airmanship and bravery to all concerned.
Great find!
Cheers
Tim
By: suthg - 26th January 2013 at 19:51
Amazing footage for those days! That was a very quick repair and so nimble with it. I would not have been standing in front of the bracing upon landing – what if the undercarriage did fail, and the plane lurched, she would have been headed for the prop. Brave girl that!
By: Sopwith - 26th January 2013 at 17:02
Fantastic,made me feel all edgey whatching it,I wouldn’t have that sort of nerve.
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January 26, 2013 at 4:12 pm