Betty Bromage, 97, reclaimed the Guinness World Record as the oldest female wing walker after a successful stunt at RFC Rendcomb Airfield in Cirencester. She first set the record at 93 and has wing-walked six times since turning 87. The latest flight, performed a year after a stroke that has affected her speech, raised funds for the stroke unit at Cheltenham General Hospital.
97-Year-Old Betty Bromage Reclaims Guinness World Record With Daring Wing-Walk
97-year-old wing walker breaks her own world record
Betty Bromage, a spirited 97-year-old from Cheltenham, has reclaimed her Guinness World Record as the oldest female wing walker after completing a stunt at RFC Rendcomb Airfield in Cirencester.
The veteran thrill-seeker first began wing-walking at 87 and has taken to the plane’s wing six times since then. Her latest outing — performed at age 97 years and 127 days — surpassed the record she previously set at age 93 in 2022.
A cause close to her heart
Bromage’s return to the wing came just one year after she suffered a stroke in August 2025 that continues to affect her speech. She said the wing-walk was also a fundraiser for the stroke unit at Cheltenham General Hospital, where she received treatment the previous year.
"I'd just get bored of life otherwise. I can't drive, I can't see very well and I get a bit frustrated. So I want to do the things I can do," Bromage told the BBC. "They treated me so well. It affects my words but the rest of me is fine."
Why it matters
Bromage’s feat is a reminder of resilience and determination at any age, and her stunt helped raise awareness and funds for stroke care in her community. The successful flight at RFC Rendcomb Airfield added a new chapter to her long-running relationship with wing-walking and set an inspiring example for others recovering from serious illness.
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