menu Home chevron_right
SCIENCE

Wingwalking used to be a lot more dangerous

Tom Scott | April 4, 2026



Back in the 1920s, wingwalking claimed lives. Daredevils would move around on the top of a plane’s wings, in mid-flight, often without any harness or any safety line. Maybe they’d be able to clip onto something during takeoff and landing, but maybe not. There are still a few of those true daredevil wingwalkers out there in the world, but in the 21st century… it’s usually a bit different.

Thanks to the team at Aerosuperbatics Wingwalking: http://www.aerosuperbatics.com/ (this isn’t sponsored, and I paid for my flight).

Edited by Michelle Martin, https://www.youtube.com/@OnTheCrux

Post Audio by Emi Paternostro, http://proximitysound.com

🟥 MORE FROM TOM: https://www.tomscott.com/
(you can find contact details and social links there too)

📰 WEEKLY NEWSLETTER with good stuff from the rest of the internet: https://www.tomscott.com/newsletter/
❓ LATERAL, free weekly podcast: https://lateralcast.com/ https://youtube.com/lateralcast/
➕ TOM SCOTT PLUS: https://youtube.com/tomscottplus
👥 THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES: https://youtube.com/techdif

Written by Tom Scott

Comments

This post currently has 46 comments.

  1. @TomScottGo

    April 4, 2026 at 2:03 am

    If you're wondering why I say that "standing up in the wind" is one of the most strenuous things I've done: turns out my g-tolerance standing is even lower than when I'm sitting down. Things got a bit… fuzzy for me during one of the 2.5g pulls.

  2. @brickmack

    April 4, 2026 at 2:03 am

    I will never get over Tom alternating between "today I'm going to learn to ride a bike" and "today I'm going to stand on top of a flying plane"

  3. @od1401

    April 4, 2026 at 2:03 am

    I would out money on their insurance being with a syndicate in Lloyd's of London

    By the way if there's anyone out there who's a bit lost in their life, in a dead end job, flunked or coasted through school and now you're a bit aimless – get a job in insurance. You don't need any qualifications to get started, they will teach you on the job, just soak up everything you learn and have a good work ethic and you can go far.

    Most companies will pay for your insurance qualifications if seeking further progression. It's a great career for those of us who only really matured after our school years well after we'd lost the chance for academic achievement (drifters)

    The money is good (passable even on a new starter rate), the work is surprisingly interesting, it's an office job so not physically taxing, but it's main benefit is it's non-existent barrier to entry combined with a sky's the limit progression possibility, and it is really easy to progress unless you're a clown with no work ethic.

    And if you know you have a good intelligent head on your shoulders but just haven't put it to good use and coasted, you're gonna have such a huge advantage over the rest and you will climb that ladder in no time.

    I'm speaking from a UK perspective by the way which has one of (if not the) most established insurance industries in the world. Happy to provide advice or info if anyone wants.

  4. @Zelmel

    April 4, 2026 at 2:03 am

    Rewatching this from my suggestions… I have a phobia of flying so this terrifies me to watch, but also I'm weirdly wanting to do this because it is SO COOL and fits with my (admittedly unhealthy given said phobia) interest in flight mechanics and aerospace engineering things.

  5. @TheEulerID

    April 4, 2026 at 2:03 am

    It would appear to be an entirely pointless activity from a spectator's point of view. There's not even the vicarious thrill about of feeling the possibility of falling off. Indeed, it's a misnomer. In what sense is somebody who's strapped to a vertical pole stabilised by tension wires actually walking?

Comments are closed.




This area can contain widgets, menus, shortcodes and custom content. You can manage it from the Customizer, in the Second layer section.

 

 

 

  • play_circle_filled

    92.9 : The Torch

  • play_circle_filled

    AGGRO
    'Til Deaf Do Us Part...

  • play_circle_filled

    SLACK!
    The Music That Made Gen-X

  • play_circle_filled

    KUDZU
    The Northwoods' Alt-Country & Americana

  • play_circle_filled

    BOOZHOO
    Indigenous Radio

  • play_circle_filled

    THE FLOW
    The Northwoods' Hip Hop and R&B

play_arrow skip_previous skip_next volume_down
playlist_play