Wing walking girls steal hearts in Dubai

Breitling Wingwalkers Marie Killerby and Sarah Tanner left more than one heart aflutter yesterday when they headed skywards to perform their synchronised wing-walking routine. Their high-flying show, reminiscent of those put on by 1920s barnstormers, was charming and breathtaking at the same time.

Strapped onto the top of a pair of biplanes, the two acrobats performed synchronised stunts including standing on one leg, and on their heads, before unclipping from their five-point harnesses and walking around the wing, tethered by only a small cable.

Killerby works year-round as a wing walker, taking part in around 60 shows a year. But daredevil Tanner, who has been walking on wings for nine years, leads a surprising double life.

For half the year she is the unassuming girl-in-accounts sitting in front of a computer in the show team's office. "It's hard work, I'm absolutely knackered," said the petite athlete at the end of their 20-minute show.

Andy Pag

Photo: Katsuhiko TOKUNAGA/DACT, INC.

Discover the FAI World Air Games 2015

>Facebook: www.facebook.com/airsports.fai

>Twitter: www.twitter.com/airsports_fai

>Flickr (hi-rez images free to use): www.flickr.com/airsports_fai/albums

>Sign up for our daily newsletter: www.goo.gl/nBbsae