Helga Duffy, who is about to turn 100, has become the world’s oldest wing-walker after being urged to give it a go by the staff at her nursing home. Duffy, who is 99, had the time of her life after being strapped to the top of a small plane at RFC Rendcomb Airfield in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England. She beat Harry Heasman, a 98-year-old World War II veteran who set the record at Duxford in May, and Betty Bromage, who became the oldest female wing-walker at 97 in August. Duffy, a retired nurse, raised more than £1,600 ($2,131) for Wiltshire Air Ambulance. A first attempt a few weeks ago was called off because of an engineering problem with the aircraft. The record required Duffy to stay airborne for at least five minutes. Because she has osteoarthritis and a bad right knee, she had been worried about getting onto the aircraft at all, but she managed without any problem. "I was strapped in very tight. I had special clothing provided. I felt safe. I thought, well, here I am. That's the last thing perhaps before I die, or before I get to a hundred,” said Duffy. A Guinness World Records adjudicator presented Duffy with her certificate when she landed. It is now on display at her nursing home.
