Wing-walkers to battle 100mph elements at NI air show

If you are one of the thousands of spectators descending on the north coast for the return of the Northern Ireland International Airshow, be sure to keep your eyes on the sky as you may just see people waving back at you from the wings of two biplanes.

Emma Broadbent and Kirsten Pobjoy, professional wing-walkers, say they cannot wait to perform later on Saturday in Portrush.

The largest international air show on the island of Ireland is back for 2024 after a five-year absence.

Both Emma and Kirsten will be glad the weather forecast is for dry weather - while they will still perform in the rain, Emma says the high speeds involved make raindrops feel like needles.

Both from England, Emma and Kirsten's work day at air shows sees them performing acrobatics and handstands while strapped to the top wings of vintage Boeing Stearman biplanes through the air at speeds of more than 100 mph (160 km/h).

As part of the AeroSuperBatics team, they travel all over the world performing to huge crowds.

Speaking to BBC News NI, Kirsten and Emma said there was no feeling quite like being strapped onto a moving aircraft and flying through the air.

They said a lot of work went on behind the scenes to make them able to perform in sometimes gruelling conditions.

"We train a lot to be able to do this, we put in so many hours on the wings because it is physically very demanding," Emma said.

"When you're up there going 100 miles per hour, battling some extreme elements for our flight time of twenty minutes, it is a full on work out.

"On a nice sunny day it is amazing.

"But when it's raining it can be a bit of a nightmare when you see that big black cloud rolling in, because when the rain hits you, it feels like thousands of little tiny needles when you're travelling at such speeds."

Both women have previously performed in Northern Ireland and said they were delighted the air show is making a return this year.

"We've been fortunate enough to travel around the world, but people often ask me where our favourite place is to wing-walk is and Northern Ireland is right up there, the Causeway coast area has some of the most stunning scenery," Kirsten said.

"We are having an amazing time up there on the wings, and it is so encouraging to see all the crowds, so make sure to look up and give us a wave."

The last Northern Ireland International Air Show, which is understood to have cost £223,000, was held in 2019 before being cancelled the following year in a cost-cutting move by Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council.

The event has previously attracted some criticism over costs, with one councillor also previously claiming it was like a like a "military fest".

In February, householders in the council area saw a 6.86% increase in their domestic rates bill, which followed a rise of 7.95% the previous year.

The council said at that time it was facing "significant financial pressures" and stated that increased insurance costs and high levels of inflation, all of which were putting "considerable strain on revenue".

Ulster Unionist Party councillor Richard Holmes said staging the air show this year would be a huge boost to the local economy and that it was a fantastic opportunity to show off the area to people from all over the world.

"We are expecting 80,000 to 100,000 people here at the weekend," Mr Holmes told BBC News NI.

He said planning for the event had taken more than a year of work and is estimated to generate about £2.4m.

Many business owners have also welcomed the event returning and are hoping to hear the sounds of busy cash registers over planes and helicopters overhead.

George Nelson, an owner of Babushka café near West Strand Beach in Portrush, said large scale events on the north coast, like the North West 200 races and recent Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Ballycastle, attract thousands of people from all over the world.

"We do get an increase in footfall with big events like these and that obviously has a knock-on effect in terms of business," Mr Nelson told BBC News NI.

"There is a great buzz about the place for the air show and we are really excited to get going this weekend and welcome people through the doors."

For 2024, the event moved to a new location along the coast starting from Ballyreagh Golf Course to West Bay in Portrush, which is to offer spectators a chance to get better vantage points for the various attractions in the sky.

Mr Nelson said that despite huge crowds being expected over the weekend, he believed the new location will help manage the numbers.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland advised visitors to adhere to restrictions and use public transport where possible.