At some point in the 1980s, I read in the newspaper that someone in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area was looking for a wing walker. The item said that the best candidates might come from strength sports (I think that was the term) such as wrestling or gymnastics.

I think the Flying Circus in Bealeton, VA (near DC) brought back free wing-walking (i.e. not strapped to the plane), and continues their barnstorming airshows to this day:

https://www.flyingcircusairshow.com/

I expect that's what I was remembering, then. Thanks.

That website is beautiful!

Beautiful...and up to date.

If anyone's interested in learning how to wing walk, Mason in Sequim, WA, will teach you: https://masonwingwalking.com/

There are a few trick pilots out on the Olympic peninsula. The local air shows never disappoint.

Perhaps best we grew out of the wing walking phase...

It’s a good thing wing-tennis never, uhhh, took off either!

Anohow, as one story goes, one of the half moon bay nurseries was started by a former barnstormer whose wife threatened divorce after his umpteenth crash, so he settled down and started a nursery.