Woman on wings inspires future recruits Published May 21, 2014 By Senior Airman Rachel Kocin 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- The 910th Airlift Wing hosted the 2014 Thunder Over the Valley Air Show and Open House May 17-18 with two primary goals in mind. The first was to demonstrate the capabilities and mission of the Air Force Reserve and Youngstown Air Reserve Station. The second was to inspire others to consider a military career. For many, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, formally known as the Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, provided that inspiration. But for many young women in the audience, that inspiration was multiplied by Carol Pilon and her Third Strike Wingwalking performance. Inspired by the likes of Amelia Earhart, Pilon grew to love aviation by attending an air show and witnessing a wing walking performance. "From that day on everything in my life has been about becoming a wing walker," said Pilon. "There is no plan B." Pilon began her wing walking career in 2001 and started Third Strike Wingwalking in 2004. She performs on the wings of a 1940 Boeing-Stearman aircraft piloted by Marcus Payne, who has been with Pilon's team for two years. "Marcus makes me a hero every day, and I am so fortunate to have such a great pilot," said Pilon. Her goal is to inspire young minds, especially women, to take to the skies and pursue aviation. That's a goal that resonates with Thunder Over the Valley coordinators here. "The bottom line really is retention of our military members and recruitment of our future generation of military members," said Maj. Jay Ference, air show director. "The idea from my point-of-view is to get that 10, 11 or 12-year-old kid that's going to come to the air show and get that little twinkle in his eye that says, 'Hey, I want to be a maintainer, I want to be a pilot, I want to be a firefighter or I want to be in public affairs; but I want to do those jobs in the military." Inclimate weather prevented Pilon's Saturday air show performance. As air show narrator Ric Peterson told the crowd, rain drops can strike like BBs for a person standing on an aircraft's wings travelling 150MPH. Pilon performed before a large audience on Sunday however, which featured clear blue skies. "There's no place I'd rather be today, everyone at the station has been so warm and inviting," said Pilon. Pilon hopes to expand her influence with the release of a documentary featuring Third Strike Wingwalking later this year. "With this series, we will be able to impact a bunch of people and hopefully inspire them to love aviation as much as we do," said Pilon.