German wing-walking sensation Peggy Krainz is looking forward to admiring Wanaka’s scenery from her lofty vantage-point during a visit to New Zealand this April to perform at the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow.  “This will be an extraordinary act, we are delighted Peggy could come, she is only just fitting in a flying visit between other appearances in Europe” said Mandy Deans, Warbirds Over Wanaka’s Event Manager.

Ms Krainz and her partner and pilot, Friedrich ‘Friedel’ Walentin will be bringing their Boeing Stearman bi-plane to Wanaka in what will be their first visit to this country. Ms Krainz said the pair were excited to be able to make the journey, between fixtures on their busy display schedule.

“We are anxious to see your country and we try to stay also a little time for holiday. When we fly the display I will not have a chance to see a lot around but I hope we will make some press and photo flights before or after the airshow and then I will take a little time to see the amazing view.”

The display will involve a ten minute flight with the plane travelling at between 130kmphr and 240kmphr, doing loops, turns and rolls.

“During start and landing I sit in the cockpit. During the display I move up on the wing and between the left wings – it is a hard work for me. We will give the spectators of the airshow some unforgettable moments…we will give our best”.

Ms Krainz (39) gained her pilots licence in 1997 and also holds an aerobatic licence. She began wing-walking in 1999 and has undertaken more than 600 displays.

During her act, communication with her pilot is by hand signals and she was attached to the aircraft by a thin safety line. A rack was erected on the plane’s upper wing but between the left wings Peggy relied on muscular strength alone to stay put.

She said she had never felt frightened during a wing-walk.

“Flying is part of my life, specially the wing-walking. My rule is if I get one time afraid or lose the respect I will stop directly.”

Ms Krainz has a fifteen year old daughter who enjoys flying but prefers to stay inside the aircraft and had no desire to follow in her mother’s footsteps.

It will be only the second time a wing-walking act has been seen at Wanaka, the first was more than twenty years ago at the first major airshow in 1988. The Tiger Top team displayed then using a de Havilland Tiger Moth piloted by Tony Renouf.

Warbirds Over Wanaka will be held during the Easter holiday on April 2, 3 and 4 and Event Manager Mandy Deans said it was promising to be one of the biggest shows ever staged with over 70 aircraft displaying.

Tickets at www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com or 0800 224 224.

ENDS