Wing walker, pilot share more than aerobatic skill

Gene Soucy and Teresa Stokes have a lot more in common than a passion for flying. In 2003, Soucy needed a kidney transplant, and Stokes was able to provide one of hers to keep the duo in the sky.

Soucy started his professional air show career in 1968. In 2006, he was inducted into the Aerobatic Hall of Fame, and he has been a three-time national aerobatic champion.

In 1988, he began developing a new air show plane that eventually became the Showcat, a modified Grumman Ag Cat traditional used for crop dusting. The plane is built for wingwalkers but also performs a fireflight night show.

Along with his air show performances, Soucy has also worked as a stunt pilot on motion pictures and television movies.

Stokes is an aerobatic pilot herself and sometimes flies the Showcat biplane to shows. However, she started wingwalking with Soucy in 1988 and has said wingwalking gives her the best view in the house.

She is also an acclaimed aviation and space artist who has had her work flown into space aboard the space shuttle. She has also created artwork for rock bands, including Aerosmith.

She is also a collector of classic cars, loves to travel on old trains and is a member of the National Railroad Historical Society as well as the Houston Inventors Association.