At 99, Helga Duffy Rode Atop a Plane to Become the Oldest Wing Walker
After watching 97-year-old Betty Bramage set the mark, Duffy decided she could do it too, and Bramage says she wants a rematch at 100.
Global News Podcast · Four killed in school shooting in US state of OregonThe light aircraft rose over England with 99-year-old Helga Duffy strapped to its upper wing, wind rushing past as the ground dropped away below her.
She is 15 years older than the plane that carried her.
From the ground, her niece, Jackie Rose, looked on with amazement. Rose said she could not be prouder, and that watching left her feeling emotional.
What Duffy did that day earned her a Guinness World Record as the oldest wing walker. At 99, no one older had completed such a flight, in which a person is fastened to the wing of a light aircraft while it flies.
She had been seeking a new adventure. Then she saw news footage of Betty Bramage, then 97, setting the previous record, and she thought, "I could do that."
She did it. She made the flight harnessed in place, and afterward she described what it had felt like in the air.
"To be honest, the feeling was peculiar," Duffy said. "I wasn't frightened because I was so excited, and maybe the adrenaline mixing with something else, I don't know."
Rose said her aunt "wanted to do something different for so long" and wanted to prove that even at 99, she is still the woman she was "years and years and years ago." Rose said she was "over the moon" that Duffy had managed to get it done, and called it "absolutely amazing."
Duffy may not hold the title for long. Bramage sent congratulations, but warned she plans to take it back when she turns 100.
"Congratulations. I hope you enjoyed it. I've done it six now," Bramage said. "I can't wait till I'm 100 and do it again, and I'll beat you again."
Questions people ask
What exactly is wing walking?
Wing walking means being harnessed and strapped to the upper wing of a small biplane, usually standing upright while the pilot flies a series of gentle passes. Modern riders wear a harness, goggles, and protective clothing, and are attached to a fixed frame so they do not have to hold on. Flights are short, relatively low, and flown by pilots specially trained for the stunt.
Is it safe for someone nearly 100 years old to do this?
It can be, with precautions, though it is physically demanding. Organizers typically require a medical check, a secure multi-point harness, protective gear, and a pilot experienced in carrying wing walkers. The main stresses are wind, noise, cold, and the effort of staying upright, so doctors pay special attention to heart health, bones, balance, and blood pressure in older riders.
How does Guinness World Records confirm an oldest-ever record?
Guinness World Records usually requires proof of age, such as a birth certificate or passport, plus independent evidence that the feat took place. That can include video, photographs, witness statements, and confirmation from the event organizer or pilot. For an age-based record, the oldest verified claim that meets all the rules becomes the new holder.