Riding with a Wingwalker
By Trevor Batstone
9 May 2008
While attending Media Day at the 45th Annual Abbotsford International Airshow, I had the opportunity to go for a ride with Gene Soucy and Teresa Stokes, the world's greatest wingwalker, as Teresa performed for my camera lens out on the wing of the 'Showcat'. The Showcat is a 1930's Grumman, modified cropduster, and is the first agricultural aircraft ever to be used in the airshow environment. The Showcat is essentially the perfect airshow airplane because it has the best pilot safety record in the business, and it upholds its job of providing earth-shattering noise and excitement.
Gene Soucy is one of the most well-respected airshow pilots in the United States. He is a former member of the record-setting Eagles Aerobatic Flight Team, and he has won more awards than any other active airshow pilot. Innovation and versatility are Gene Soucy's style. It is no wonder that he has been rightfully nicknamed "Mr. Airshow".
Gene's career does not stop merely at airshows. He has also worked as a stunt pilot on major motion pictures and television movies as a member of the Screen Actors Guild. Some of his projects include Aces/Iron III, with Louis Gossett, Jr., and The Pancho Barnes Story starring Valerie Bertinelli. Furthermore, he and wingwalker Teresa Stokes have been featured on Discovery Channel's World Of Wonder, Real TV, Good Morning America, ESPN, and National Geographic Today. Even more than that, Gene Soucy is a Captain for Northwest Airlines when he is not performing at airshows.
Teresa Stokes is the most experienced and recognized wingwalker in the airshow industry, and she has been performing with Gene Soucy since 1988. Audiences have been mesmerized at her ability to climb about on the wings of an airplane in flight and are inspired by the incredible life that she gets to live.
In addition to wingwalking, Teresa is also an internationally acclaimed aviation artist. At the astonishing young age of four she won her first art contest. Since then she has gone on to have her artwork flown into space on two separate shuttle missions, and she has created artwork for rock bands such as Aerosmith, on one of their multi-platinum album covers. She also designed the paint scheme for the Showcat.
In 2003, when Gene Soucy required a kidney transplant, Teresa was able to donate one of her own and thus saved Gene's life. Teresa loves her job as the world's greatest wingwalker. She describes it as an inspirational way of experiencing her artistic subject matter and she enjoys the thrill of every flight. She says "Physically, it's like flying aerobatics without an airplane. As a seascape artist must experience the sea, an aviation artist must experience the sky, and what an experience it is!".
Gene Soucy and Teresa Stokes are exceptionally friendly to everyone they meet. Not only are they two great airshow performers, but also two fantastic citizens of the universe.
Trevor Batstone is a freelance photojournalist with American International News Service
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