A 97-year-old woman, known as a gran, is poised to break her own Guinness World Record as the oldest female wing walker. Betty Bromage, an adrenaline enthusiast, embarked on this extreme sport at the age of 87 and achieved her initial global record at 93. With her sixth wing walk scheduled for August, she is on course to retain her title.
Residing in a retirement home in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, Betty recalled her inspiration for wing walking from a Crunchie bar advertisement featuring a lady on top of a plane. This idea struck her when she realized the lack of chores and shopping activities in her new living arrangement at 87.
After finding a traditional wing walk too mundane, Betty requested the pilot to perform a more exhilarating maneuver, leading to a figure-eight flight pattern. Her first foray into wing walking occurred in 2016 following her husband’s passing.
Since then, Betty has completed multiple wing walks, including one to commemorate her 90th birthday amidst the Covid pandemic. Additionally, she has undertaken various daring challenges such as navigating Europe’s longest zip line in Snowdonia and rappelling down Cheltenham’s 161-foot Eagle Star building.
At 93, Betty secured the Guinness World Record for the oldest female wing walker by executing stunts like loops and barrel rolls in support of the Sue Ryder charity. Despite a recent stroke, she is resolute in returning to the skies for her sixth wing walk on August 4 at RFC Rendcomb Airfield to fundraise for the stroke unit at Cheltenham General Hospital.
Praising Betty’s indomitable spirit, the CEO of Pegasus Homes, the operator of Betty’s care home, hailed her as an inspiration showcasing that age should not hinder new adventures in later life. The community eagerly anticipates supporting her in this upcoming record-breaking feat.