AeroSuperBatics
AeroSuperBatics wing walking display, August 2021
AeroSuperBatics wing walking display, August 2021
Active1982–present
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branchcivilian
Typebiplane aerobatic formation and wing walking team
Rolepublic airshows, corporate events, personal wing walking experiences
Size4 aircraft, 5 pilots, 6 wing walkers
Base & registered officeRFC Rendcomb Aerodrome, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England, GL7 7DF
WebsiteAeroSuperBatics.com
Aircraft flown
Boeing–Stearman Model 75 biplane – x4
Breitling Wingwalkers four-ship display, July 2011.
Utterly Butterly wing walkers, 2004.
Breitling wing walkers, 2013.

AeroSuperBatics Limited, legally known as Aero-Super-Batics Limited,[1] and commonly known merely as AeroSuperBatics, is a British civilian biplane multi-aircraft formation aerobatics and wing walking team. They currently perform as The AeroSuperBatics Wingwalkers (unsponsored since 2018),[2] and were branded as the 'The Flying Circus' in 2018.[3] They were previously branded Breitling 'Swiss Chronographs' (performing as The Breitling Wingwalkers, 2011 to 2018)[2] in accordance with their sponsorship agreement with the Swiss watch manufacturer Breitling. Prior to that, branding included Guinot 'Institut Paris' (performing as Team Guinot, 2008 to 2009),[2] Colt Cars,[4] St.Ivel 'Utterly Butterly' (performing as The Utterly Butterlys, 1999 to 2007),[2] Cadbury's 'Crunchie' (performing as the 'Crunchie Flying Circus', 1992 to 1998),[2] and Yugo Cars,[4][5] according to their commercial sponsors at the time. Their display options currently consist of either a solo aircraft, or two-ship formation pair, or three-ship display,[6] and previously included a four-ship formation, and during the 2008 display season, a five-ship formation.[7] They are the worlds only formation wingwalking team.[7][8][9][10][11]

History and operation

AeroSuperBatics as a company was originally formed, and incorporated by Companies House in England and Wales as Oval (277) Limited on 4 November 1986, registered as a private limited company (limited by shares) under company number 02070666.[1][12] On 17 April 1987, following a vote of agreement at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) by the company to change its name; on 8 September 1987, its registered name was officially changed to Aero-Super-Batics Limited.[1][13]

The AeroSuperBatics display team (as it was later to be known by) was founded in 1982, by veteran aerobatics pilot and now honorary air commodore of 614 Squadron RAuxAF RAF Reserve Vic Norman,[5] initially operating a sole Zlin Z-50 in a traditional display role.[4] During the mid 1980s, Vic and his wife attended an airshow at Salinas in the USA; it was there that he first witnessed wing walking with a Boeing Stearman, and this was the seed that sparked Vic's idea of bringing wing walking to the United Kingdom, which was only happening in the UK on top of a Tiger Moth.[4] Upon his return to the UK, Vic managed to get a flight in a 450 horsepower (340 kilowatts) Boeing Stearman newly owned by Ray Hanna; Vic subsequently purchased the Stearman from Hanna.[4] A wing walking rig for the Stearman had been created and certified in the USA by Art Scholl, though Scholl was reluctant to allow others to use his rig, due to fears of getting hurt whilst using it.[4] After Scholl was killed in 1985 during filming backdrop scenes for the film Top Gun, his widow gave the wing walking rig plans to Norman, thus allowing Norman to replicate a wing walking rig on his own recently acquired Stearman. Being as Norman was still displaying his Zlin, Norman persuaded Bob Thomson to fly his Stearman, with Lesley Gail becoming their first wing walker.[4]

Still operating as Oval (277) Limited, commercial sponsors were the key enabling Norman to expand his display business. The change in company name to AeroSuperBatics occurred around the same time as Yugo Cars became their first sponsor. Following Yugo was Cadbury's in 1989, and this enabled Norman to expand his fleet to two Stearmans. Successive sponsors included St Ivel, Guinot from France, and latterly Breitling from Switzerland. The team expanded to display up to five Stearman aircraft simultaneously at one airshow programme in 2008, and the five-ship performing a wing walking display in their new big V 'Vulcan' formation, as a homage to the return to flight of a former Royal Air Force (RAF) Avro Vulcan XH558 as restored by the Vulcan To The Sky Trust.[7] In 1992, Norman became a full time wing walking pilot for the team.[4]

AeroSuperBatics currently operates four modified Boeing–Stearman Model 75 biplanes. Their original 220 horsepower (160 kilowatts) Continental radial engines were replaced with a 450 horsepower (340 kilowatts) 985 cubic inches (16 litres) Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN14B 'Junior Wasp' engine driving a Hamilton Standard 2D30/6101A-12 constant speed propeller.[14][15] AeroSuperBatics currently employs five male pilots[16] and six female wing walkers.[8][17][18]

The team currently offer the following display show options; consisting of either one aircraft (solo), two (formation pair), or a three-ship display, (and previously offered a four and five aircraft option). The display consists of aerobatic manoeuvres, with female acrobats attached to a harness and tether to post above the wings who engage in wing walking activities.[19] The team is based at its current registered office location of RFC Rendcomb Aerodrome, a former World War 1 training aerodrome of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), and now private airfield near Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 7DF in England,[8][1] which is also owned by Vic Norman and two business partners (which include Nick Mason, drummer of Pink Floyd).[19][20] Although being UK based and regular participants at some of the UKs leading airshows, the team are also regular visitors to many European airshows, along with performances in Asia and the Middle East;[9] its furthest displays being performed in Japan, the Philippines,[3][21] and Australia.[22]

AeroSuperBatics also offer the opportunity for members of the public to experience wing walking, and can also be used for charitable fundraising and corporate events.[23] The team have also taken many famous people wing walking, including: Richard Branson, Bear Grylls, Elon Musk, Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt (both of Status Quo), the Crown Prince of Dubai, along with many others from musicians, sports personnel, racing car drivers, broadcast presenters, journalists,[19] actors, and royalty.[24] They have flown on the wing from as young as age 9,[25][26] up to 95 year olds.[23][24] AeroSuperBatics hold two Guinness World Records; for the most consecutive wing walking rolls (10), and for the shortest person to wing walk (1.263 metres (4 feet 1.7 inches)). They facilitated the worlds' first wedding on the wing at 1,000 feet (300 m) using three of their aircraft, one each for the bride, the groom, and the officiating reverend.[24]

Accidents and incidents

At at 14:48 hrs UTC (15:48 hrs BST) on 4 September 2021, as part of a two-ship formation wing walking display at the Bournemouth Air Festival, one of the AeroSuperBatics Boeing Stearman aircraft crashed into the sea near the Sandbanks Ferry, Poole Harbour, after the biplane suffered an unrecoverable mechanical failure of its engine.[27] The wing walker Kirsten Pobjoy (who was able to return to the cockpit immediately prior to the crash) received minor injuries, the pilot David Barrell (in the rear cockpit) was unhurt. They were both promptly rescued from the water by a nearby motorboat, assessed by event medical staff at the scene, and subsequently in hospital. Both were released from medical care later the same day. The aircraft, significantly damaged due to its impact with the sea, was later recovered from its sea crash site by a crane on instruction by the harbour operator.[10][28][29] Following a Field Investigation by the United Kingdom's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) at Farnborough Airport, it was discovered that the Boeing–Stearman A75N1 (PT17), registration N707TJ, manufacturers serial no: 75-950,[30] lost power to its engine, this was caused by the failure of a metal strap supporting the oil feed pipe to the engine, and the oil feed pipe breaking at its connection to the engine. The aircraft was destroyed following its ditching into the sea. In the aftermath of this crash and the findings by the AAIB, AeroSuperBatics modified the rigid engine oil feed pipe as fitted to one of its remaining Stearmans with the R-985 engine (its other two R-985 engined Stearmans had a different flexible oil feed pipe), and developed a new set of hand signal communications between pilot and wing walker, to advise of any mechanical issues and additional emergency procedures.[14][31][32]

Pilot controversy

On 5 April 2022, an AeroSuperBatics pilot and former Red Arrows pilot Andy Cubin MBE (aged 59) appeared at Swindon Magistrates' Court (via video link), and pleaded guilty to possessing incident images of children, including 48 images in the 'most serious category'.[33] Magistrates committed him to Swindon Crown Court for sentence at a later date following the completion of pre-sentence reports, with the chair of the magistrates' bench remarking "These offences are so serious you need a greater punishment that we can give", before releasing him on unconditional bail.[33] Now known as Andrew Lloyd after a recent surname change, he has been placed on the sex offenders register. Prior to his court hearing in April 2022, following a police raid in February 2021 at the Wiltshire home of Lloyd, he was arrested by Wiltshire Police after they discovered the indecent child images.[34] Later that year, whilst awaiting criminal trial (and without notifying AeroSuperBatics), in September 2021, Lloyd flew one of AeroSuperBatics biplanes as part of a two-ship wing walking formation display at the Bournemouth Air Festival, when the other AeroSuperBatics biplane crashed into the sea.[34]

In response to his criminal conviction, Lorraine Wright, operations manager for AeroSuperBatics Limited stated that they "were unaware of prior to reports of his court appearance on 5 April 2022", and that they were "shocked and devastated by the case against this individual". Wright confirmed that they had "immediately terminated any association with him".[34]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Aero-Super-Batics Limited - overview". Find and update company information - GOV.UK. United Kingdom: Companies House. n.d. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 "រូបភាពជុំវិញពិភពលោក ០៨ កុម្ភៈ ២០១៨. បណ្តុំរូបភាពនៃព្រឹត្តិការណ៍និងទិដ្ឋភាពនានាមកពីប្រទេសផ្សេងៗនៅជុំវិញពិភពលោក។" [Pictures around the world 08 February 2018. Gallery of events and scenes from around the world.]. Khmer.VOANews.com (in Khmer). VOA News. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2023. A female member of the British AeroSuperBatics Wingwalkers is performing for the first time in the Philippines at the 22nd AeroSuperBatics Wingwalkers. Four days at Clark in Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Goodwin, Colin (15 October 2021). "Pilot profile: Vic Norman 'Mr Wingwalking'". PilotWeb.aero. Pilot Magazine, Kelsey Media Ltd. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Founder". AeroSuperBatics. RFC Rendcomb Aerodrome: AeroSuperBatics. n.d. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "display options". AeroSuperBatics. RFC Rendcomb Aerodrome: AeroSuperBatics. n.d. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 "Five-ship formation for Team Guinot". PilotWeb.aero. Pilot Magazine, Kelsey Media Ltd. 6 March 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 Shaitly, Shahesta (23 May 2010). "The art of aerobatic wing walking". TheGuardian.com. The Guardian, Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved 4 August 2023. They are the world's only formation aerobatic team. They perform death-defying stunts to 6 million spectators every year. They are all women… and they are looking for a new recruit. Have you got what it takes?
  8. 1 2 Harding, Nick (20 November 2018). "AeroSuperBatics seek new wingwalker for 2019". UKAviation.news. UK Aviation News, Max Thrust Digital Production. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  9. 1 2 Wood, Daniel (5 September 2021). "Plane from wingwalker group crashes at Bournemouth Air Festival". WiltsGlosStandard.co.uk. Wilts and Glos Standard. Archived from the original on 5 September 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  10. ↑ "Wing walkers wow crowds at this year's Midlands Air Festival at Ragley Hall". Stratford-Herald.com. Stratford-upon-Avon, England: Stratford Herald, Stratford News and Media Limited. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  11. ↑ "Certificate of Incorporation of a private limited company, No. 02070666". Cardiff, United Kingdom: Companies House. 4 November 1986. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  12. ↑ "Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name, No. 02070666". Cardiff, United Kingdom: Companies House. 8 September 1987. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  13. 1 2 AAIB Bulletin: N707TJ, AAIB-27642 (PDF). GOV.UK (Report). Air Accidents Investigation Branch. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  14. ↑ "our aircraft". AeroSuperBatics. RFC Rendcomb Aerodrome: AeroSuperBatics. n.d. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  15. ↑ "our pilots". AeroSuperBatics. RFC Rendcomb Aerodrome: AeroSuperBatics. n.d. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  16. ↑ "our wingwalkers". AeroSuperBatics. RFC Rendcomb Aerodrome: AeroSuperBatics. n.d. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  17. ↑ "10 Foto aksi cewek cantik di sayap pesawat yang sedang terbang, ngeri" [10 action photos of beautiful girls on the wings of airplanes that are flying, horrified]. Brilio.net (in Indonesian). Brilio, KLY KapanLagi Youniverse. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  18. 1 2 3 Wheeler, Sara (10 March 2007). "Walking in the air". Telegraph.co.uk. London, England: The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 27 August 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  19. ↑ "RFC Rendcomb Airfield". AeroSuperBatics. RFC Rendcomb Aerodrome: AeroSuperBatics. n.d. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  20. ↑ "A 'Weekend of everything that flies' at the 22nd Philippine International Balloon Fiesta". FAI.org. Fédération Aéronautique Internationale / World Air Sports Federation. 5 February 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  21. ↑ "airshows". AeroSuperBatics. RFC Rendcomb Aerodrome: AeroSuperBatics. n.d. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  22. 1 2 "UK Wingwalking Experiences". Go Wingwalking. RFC Rendcomb Aerodrome: AeroSuperBatics. n.d. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  23. 1 2 3 "Walk of Fame". Go Wingwalking. RFC Rendcomb Aerodrome: AeroSuperBatics. n.d. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  24. ↑ Kay, Jon (21 August 2013). "Wing-walking schoolgirls fly into the record books". BBC News. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  25. ↑ "Girls aged nine become youngest formation wing-walkers". TheGuardian.com. The Guardian, Guardian News & Media Limited. Press Association. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  26. ↑ Accident description for Boeing A75N1 Stearman, N707TJ, c.n. 75-950 at the Aviation Safety Network
  27. ↑ "Two injured after plane crashes into sea near Bournemouth". BBC News. 4 September 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  28. ↑ "Bournemouth Air Festival crash pilot and wing-walker 'returning to work'". BBC News. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  29. ↑ "Aircraft Inquiry - N707TJ". Registry.FAA.gov. Washington, DC: Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. n.d. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  30. ↑ "Bournemouth Air Festival: Biplane crash caused by failed oil pipe". BBC.co.uk. Dorset, England: BBC News. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  31. ↑ "AAIB investigation to Boeing A75N1(PT17) Stearman, N707TJ. Loss of power during flying display and ditching off Sandbanks, Poole, Dorset, 4 September 2021". GOV.UK. Air Accidents Investigation Branch. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  32. 1 2 Jae Webb, Daniel (5 April 2022). "Former Red Arrows pilot with MBE admits possessing dozens of vile child abuse images". Wiltshire999s.co.uk. Wiltshire 999s. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  33. 1 2 3 Jae Webb, Daniel (6 April 2022). "'Shocked' Cirencester aerobatics group cut ties with sex offender pilot Andy Cubin MBE". Wiltshire999s.co.uk. Wiltshire 999s. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.

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