The
Cardiomyopathy
Association

Brave Rita Scowen has completed a wing walk on a plane travelling at more than 120 miles per hour.

Rita, who did the 15-minute walk in memory of her niece Maddie Smith, said her face was being pummelled so much by the strength of the wind, she wondered why anyone ever bothered with face lifts!

She said: "One wing walk could do the trick - and be enjoyable to boot."

Rita, who raised £500 for the CMA, was bought the flight by her husband for Christmas. She said: "I did a parachute jump when I was 39 (almost 20 years ago) and ever since wanted to do a wing walk. We had seen a wing walking team performing at Shoreham Air Show and I'd always said I'd love to do it." 

But she said that on the day her nerves kicked in as soon as she arrived and saw one of the Guniot planes doing manoeuvres.

She said: "I was introduced to the pilot and was talked through safety procedures and how to get myself up through the wires and wings of the plane into position.

"As we taxied across the grass field to get ready for take-off, it was quite bumpy.  I was really tense but once in the air and after the first inital rush of wind to the face, I soon relaxed.

"I was instructed to held out my arms and wave as we flew past my family on the ground, but that was more difficult than it sounded.

"We flew quite low, banked away at different angless, and one manoeuvre made me experience weightlessness."

It was quite breathtaking and an experience I would recommend but it was over too quickly."

The wing walking team is sponsored by Guinot and based at RFC Rendcomb Airfield near Cirencester.