Woman, 99, takes to the skies to smash record for world's oldest wing-walker

Woman, 99, takes to the skies to smash record for world's oldest wing-walker Helga Duffy completed her wing walk at RFC Rendcomb Airfield in Cirencester and raised money for the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance - and said it wasn't scary at all A daredevil woman who is about to turn 100 has become the world's oldest wing-walker - after being urged to give it a go by her care home nurse. Helga Duffy, 99, had the time of her life after being strapped to the top of a small plane at RFC Rendcomb Airfield in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. She was determined to give it a go after watching the previous record holder Betty Bromage doing the same thing on the news and was egged on by staff at the home in Devizes, Wiltshire. She broke the record for wing-walking just three months after the previous was set by a 97-year-old and she was presented with a certificate by officials from Guinness World Records at the airfield. Helga even raised over £1,600 for Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance charity and said it wasn't frightening at all. Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings. She said: "I thought this was the last time I can do something different. One of our night supervisors suggested this wing walk. I had no idea what it was. "Her first attempt had to be cancelled a few weeks ago due to engineering difficulties with the aircraft, but she was determined to do it." She said: "It was a very different sensation than I've ever had. I thought to myself, 'come one now'." She added: "Once we did the round and we were up a thousand metres, I took three deep breaths and the air up there is so pure you wouldn't believe it. I felt so good then and afterwards. I thought, 'is this like if you take drugs?'. I'm sure it is. "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." Helga, who spent most of her life working as a nurse, had to spend over five minutes in the air. Despite her initial concerns about getting on the plane itself due to her osteoarthritis and bad right knee, she was in the air for eight minutes. Helga's niece, Jackie Rose, had seen reports about the previous record holder Betty Bromage and realised it was possible for Helga. Jackie said: "It was a wonderful atmosphere. I had so much admiration for her because I knew how painful it was on her knee. "Everybody was clapping. It was so nice just to see, actually, age is irrelevant. It's just lovely to see somebody doing something they enjoy." Will Munford, Guinness World Records Adjudicator, presented Helga with her official certificate when she touched down after the flight. The certificate is being displayed in the care home as a reminder that age is just a number. Helga said: "Try anything. Don't ever say, I can't do anything. You can't see until you've tried. It's my motto." Betty, who broke the record at 97-years-old in August, congratulated Helga on her success, joking that she was excited to turn 100 to beat the new record.