AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 39

Witness fantastic feats of flight
in beautiful rural Bealeton,
Virginia. The Flying Circus Air
Show runs every Sunday May
through October.
flyingcircusairshow.com
back in my sails. Wing walking filled the bill. We should do what
makes us happy. We only have so much time. You feel that at age 67.
There were practice sessions in the hangar climbing up and
down the Stearman over the course of a year. There were bruises.
The flying wires leave marks on your arms and legs as you maneuver
your way out of the cockpit to the upper wing and back down.
A badge of honor, I figure.
Practice went well. I was greenlighted to wing walk as long as
I could perform the climb up on the wing, then down, safety, during
a taxi test on the runway with the 450-horsepower Stearman's
propeller blasting me in all her glory.
The morning of the event arrives. I successfully pass the final
taxi test.
When RJ asks if I am ready, I am in my son's capable hands.
I see RJ in the mirror as we roar down the Flying Circus' grass
runway. Glorious blue sky. The moon smiles down at me through
the flying wires. I soak up the breathtaking beauty of the Virginia
countryside as the Earth falls away.
There is total trust. RJ is an award-winning pilot performing at
airshows including EAA AirVenture. He's been flying since I was
pregnant with him. As RJ's first flight instructor, I taught him to
fly. I never doubted his ability to accomplish this safely.
RJ signals me when it is time to climb out of the cockpit. Right
hand, left hand positioned in holds to stand up in the seat. Right
arm around the front stanchion...and so the choreography begins.
The wind is stronger than I anticipated. There is lots of resistance.
An aggressive push-back force. But there is no fear. Just
lots of wind. I use muscle memory for the correct hand and foot
holds, intense focus, and then an unexpected recognition that I
do not feel as secure as I should.
After getting on the top wing, I hesitate, then stop the dance,
the cautionary words of the Circus official whispering in the wind.
I am sort of pretty sure I could have fully stood up, positioning
myself to buckle in to the stanchion belt to enjoy the ride, but it
felt iffy. " Pretty " sure isn't sure enough. I am untethered to the aircraft.
The iffy feeling urged me to retreat to the cockpit.
RJ says he is proud I did the right thing. I am proud of him
for recognizing that. My greatest accomplishment is parenting a
kind, wise kid with a good head on his shoulders. And a great pilot.
Regarding setting a mother-son record, Beth says the fact that
I made it up onto the wing counts! These are the moments that
mold a life. This experience was thrilling and terrifying. I am over
the moon for the opportunity to share it with my son and the fabulous
folks at the Flying Circus. And while yes, as RJ's mother, I
gave him life, really, he gave me mine. MayCay Beeler is an ATP
and CFII who initially learned to fly for a TV assignment as an
ABC-TV reporter. She holds world aviation records in the experimental
Questair Venture. She has piloted more than 30 different
makes and models of aircraft ranging from the Beech Skipper to
the HondaJet Elite.
AOPA PILOT / September 2022
39
GWEN PARSONS PHOTOGRAPHY
http://www.flyingcircusairshow.com

AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022

Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - Intro
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - Cover1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 8
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 19
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 21
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 26
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 28
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 30
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 32
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 34
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 36
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 38
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 40
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - R-1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - R-2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - R-3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - R-4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - R-5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - R-6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - R-7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - R-8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 50
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 53
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 56
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 60
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 66
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 69
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 71
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 81
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 90
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - 112
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2022 - Cover4
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