At 99, Helga Duffy has found a joyful new way to show that adventure has no age limit: she is now the world’s oldest female wing-walker.
The idea began when her niece, Jackie Rose, heard about 97-year-old Betty Bromage setting the record. Encouraged by staff at her assisted-living facility, Helga decided to give the unusual challenge a try.
“I had no idea what it was,” Helga said. Once she learned what wing-walking involved, though, she was determined to do it. Arthritis and a painful right knee made boarding the plane a concern, but she made it aboard and spent more than five minutes secured above the aircraft as it flew over Rendcomb Airfield in Gloucestershire, England.
The experience delighted the retired nurse. “It was a very different sensation than I’ve ever had,” she said. She also felt “very safe” throughout the flight.
Cheers greeted Helga when she landed, and a Guinness World Records adjudicator presented her with a certificate. Jackie called it “a wonderful atmosphere” and said she admired Helga all the more knowing how much her knee hurt.
Helga’s flight raised more than £1,600 for a regional air ambulance charity. Her certificate now has a place at her care facility, where it celebrates both her achievement and her spirit. As Helga puts it: “Try anything.”
