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97-Year-Old Betty Bromage Breaks Wing-Walking Record, Raises Funds

8/8/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Betty Bromage, a 97-year-old British daredevil, broke her own Guinness World Record as the oldest female wing-walker on 4 August 2026.
Strapped to a biplane wing at RFC Rendcomb, she performed a barrel roll and a loop.
The stunt raised funds for Cheltenham General Hospital’s stroke unit, which treated her after a stroke in August 2025.
She first wing-walked at age 87 in 2016 and set the previous record at 93 years 145 days in 2022.

History

Historical Context

Public wing-walking began when Colonel Samuel Franklin Cody’s biplane carried two boys on its wing on 14 January 1911 in England. The stunt entered U.S. shows with Ormer Locklear’s first public performance at Barron Field, Texas, in November 1918, an era that saw eight wing-walkers killed before a 1936 ban. In August 2026, 97-year-old Betty Bromage repeated the feat at RFC Rendcomb, raising money for Cheltenham General Hospital.

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Story summary

Betty Bromage, a 97-year-old British daredevil, broke her own Guinness World Record as the oldest female wing-walker on 4 August 2026.
Strapped to a biplane wing at RFC Rendcomb, she performed a barrel roll and a loop.
The stunt raised funds for Cheltenham General Hospital’s stroke unit, which treated her after a stroke in August 2025.
She first wing-walked at age 87 in 2016 and set the previous record at 93 years 145 days in 2022.

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