Danielle & Emiliano Del Buono
Thank you for your time, could you introduce yourself to us.
Thank you for your interest in our team. I'm Danielle Del Buono, a professional Wingwalker for 46 Aviation Classics. My husband Emiliano is the pilot and also CEO.
Could you tell us a little about 46 Aviation Classics and your wingwalking act?
46 Aviation Classics are based in Sion, Switzerland. We perform the original style of wingwalking.
How did you get into wing walking?
My mother and father took me to a local airshow at 6 years old. I was fascinated by the fantastic flying machines but mostly by the wingwalking act. The wingwalking reached out and grabbed my heart and I just knew from then on ‘That's what Im gonna do when i grow up!’ I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! There was a person on the top wing of a biplane and I couldn’t take my eyes off the show!
In 2007, when I was 18 years old I discovered the British based flying team AerosSuperBatics were looking for a new wingwalker. It was advertised in my local newspaper! After a few interviews and a flying audition I was lucky enough to get the job. I became a professional wingwalker and worked with them for 9 years. It was a great experience and I made life long friends and many happy memories.
In 2014, whilst participating at Air14 Airshow in Payerne, Switzerland, I fell in love with Emiliano Del Buono, (CEO of 46 Aviation based in Sion and also Switzerlands Unlimited Aerobatic Champion.) Eventually I moved to Switzerland and we got married and now we have 2 children and 2 dogs together!
We then had the opportunity to fly together on a Stearman operated by 46 Aviation. The aircraft had all the necessary modifications and we had the experience. With his tail dragger, aerobatic and warbird flying experience combined with my airshow wingwalking knowledge we were able to design an entertaining flying sequence and perform at airshows together since 2016. I had the freedom to walk in-between the wings and do the original style of wing walking. Walking the wings, stepping over the wires, dancing and gliding gracefully on my sky horse!
The first time I did this, it felt incredible! I started in the front cockpit and looked in the mirror at my pilot/ husband waiting for him to give me the ‘thumbs up’ to climb out. When he was ready he looked at me, gave me the thumbs up and blew me a kiss. I returned the kiss and proceeded to un-do my cockpit straps and tidy them away carefully. I stood up on the seat and took a deep breath as I made my first step out on to the wing. The force of the wind was immense and I could feel the prop -wash fight against me. I knew it was going to be tough and take a lot of strength but i felt more determined than ever. I used the wires to hold on to and carefully stepped out further, placing my feet only on the ribs of the wing, navigating my self towards the javelin. I lay across the javelin, my position for the loop. Its a great way to view the world go around. I felt so free! Also it was kinda romantic, walking out on the wing whilst may husband flies me!
Here I am now in my 16th season of wingwalking and my 7th season with our own team 46 AVIATION.
Do you remember the first time wing walking and how you felt that day?
I was extremely excited and felt very lucky to have been given the opportunity since it had been a childhood dream. I was of course very nervous and was shocked by the strength of the wind. Its like climbing a tree in a hurricane and I absolutely LOVED it!
Are you ever nervous when stepping out of your seat and on top of the wing?
I feel slightly nervous and have a butterflies feeling before every flight. Even now… but I believe this is a good thing as it helps me to focus, concentrate and consider safety carefully.
How much training is required to go on top of the wing and perform those aerobatics?
I had to practice for weeks with the plane just on the ground, tracing my steps and preparing everything accurately. I walk out to the very far edges of the wing and have to plan methodically where to place my feet on the ribs so as not to damage the wing. The prop-wash and the wind are strong so you have to be prepared for a fight! All the while smiling, waving to the crowd and maintaining elegance and poise during the graceful demonstration!
Any airshow in Europe you haven’t displayed at but would like to?
I would like to perform in Sardinia!
Could you tell us a little bit about the aircraft? What modifications have been made to allow for the wing-walking act?
The aircraft has a larger engine (450hp) than the standard 220hp Stearman’s. It has 4 ailerons, instead of the standard 2, improving the aircrafts roll rate and agility. It has an inverted fuel and oil system allowing us to do an inverted pass. We have an environmentally friendly smoke system. We also have a certified wingwalking rig.
When do you start practising for the airshow season and how often do you practice?
As soon as the temperature permits we start training and on a regular basis.
Could you tell us about your display? At what speeds and heights do you fly and how many G’s do you pull during your typical display?
I start off inside the cockpit and then climb up to the top wing and attach myself to the rig. I do this infront of the crowd so they can see me make this transition. We have a few passes where i perform an aerobic/ dance style routine as the plane performs level passes and also stall turns. We then fly an excited inverted pass. I then unstrap from the rig and lay across the leading edge. Next I climb down and stand infront of the pilots cockpit on one leg and perform the ballet pose named the arabesque. The next pass you will see me climb from the cockpit in-between the wings of the biplane as I walk out to the javelin, which is half way. I am here for a loop and a roll. I then walk out even further to the far edges of the wing and wave to the crowd. For the final pass I sit on the lower wing, waving goodbye to the crowd, as the plane flies in a knife-edge configuration.
Emiliano uses the plane (Boeing Stearman) as a work-horse to exhibit my wingwalking expertise and flys according to my needs and routine criteria. He carefully manages the aircrafts energy and makes regular adjustments due to my movements constantly altering the aircrafts centre of gravity. Emiliano compliments the show by blending it with his intense, accomplished aerobatic training, looping, rolling and diving through the sky aerial arena.
We fly up to 125knots, between 100ft -1000ft depending on the manoeuvre, G forces ranging between -1 to 3 G
What is the difference between wingwalking and wingriding?
Wingwalking is literally walking on and in-between the wings and wingriding is when you are leaning against and strapped into the wingwalking rig/ trapeze structure. During the inverted pass I am strapped into the rig due to the negative G but for the majority of the show I like to change positions on the aircraft.
What steps do you take to make wing-walking safe? Do you use any safety harnesses or safety cables?
On the top wing I have a certified wing-rack with a 5 point harness which is secured with a second locking system called a locking pin. This secondary action prevents the harness being accidentally knocked open. The entire duration of the display I have a harness around my waist and I am connected to the plane with short safety lines (less than a meter in length). I am NEVER free or loose on the plane. I am ALWAYS attached.
Emiliano is extremely experienced with flying tail draggers and also aerobatics. He is also a Display Autorisation Examiner and is the Swiss Aerobatic Champion in the unlimited category, so I am in safe hands! The plane is very well maintained and is certified and has been modified to accommodate for wingwalking capabilities. Our flight sequence has been thoughtfully planned out and considered and every time we fly we discuss together the weather, wind direction and then we do a ‘walk through’ on the ground.
Where can we see you perform this year?
We mostly perform in Italy, France and Switzerland. We have also performed in Greece, Spain, Belgium and Denmark. We will update our website with our calendar and keep you posted on social media closer to summer.
Thank you very much for your time! Any final words to our readers
Thank you for interviewing us. We look forward to meeting you and seeing you at airshows. Please do wave to me when we are performing as I can see the waves from the sky and do come and say hello on the ground too, its always nice to meet others passionate about aviation. Our website is www.46aviation.com/wingwalking and instagram page is @46_aviation_sa and facebook page is 46 Aviation Wingwalker Danielle
