DAREDEVIL Ian Wood is planning to do a spectacular wingwalk on a light aircraft – even though he is visually impaired and uses a wheelchair.

Ian, 39, of Gale Lane, Acomb, who has Mitochondrial Disease, which causes muscle weakness and shrinking, and is registered blind, has been in training for some weeks in preparation for the feat.

“I have had to lose over one stone in weight and, as I spend most of my day in a wheelchair, I’ve been practising standing up for long enough to complete the wing walk,” he said.

He can now stand for about 15 minutes and expects to have to stand up in the air behind the pilot for about 10 minutes after the bi-plane takes off from Breighton Airfield, near Selby, on August 5.

The Boeing Stearman will fly mainly at a height of 250-300 feet but is set to climb to 500 feet for a steep dive during the display.

Ian has had plenty of experience of daring feats, having previously taken part in sky dives, wheelchair skiing and bungee jumping.

He told The Press in 2015 how he never let his illness prevent him doing the things he loved, saying: “You just get on with it and do whatever you can.”

This time he’s doing the wing walk for the York Blind and Partially Sighted Society and York Sharks, the wheelchair basketball team for which he plays.

“I’ve been an active member of the York Sharks development side for the last 10 months,” he said.

“They do lots of work in schools raising awareness about disability. They also have teams at various levels so, no matter what your ability, you can get involved.

“I’ve been a trustee of YBPSS in the past and have been visually impaired for most of my life and know the great work it does in supporting the visually impaired community within York.

“Both causes need funding support to carry on doing their good work, and I want to be able to help them.”

Diane Roworth, chief officer with the society, said: “Ian has been a member of YBPSS all the time I have been here, and I know that he has put a lot of effort into building up his strength so that he can do the wing walk.”

*To sponsor Ian, go to: https://www.gofundme.com/wingwalk-for-york-sharks or make a donation at the YBPSS equipment centre in Rougier Street, between 10am and 3pm on weekdays.