New York: Age is just a number when passion takes flight! Proving that adventure has no age limit, 74-year-old American Richard “Rich” Greenwood has soared into the record books as the oldest man to complete a wingsuit flight, earning recognition from Guinness World Records. Greenwood, a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico, achieved the remarkable feat on June 5 this year, at the age of 74 years and 136 days. He took the title from fellow American Robert Felt, who had set the previous record at 72 years and 64 days in May. For Greenwood, the achievement is the culmination of a lifelong fascination with flying. His love for the skies began at the tender age of five, when he made miniature parachutes using tissue paper, tape and strings before testing them by throwing them off his garage roof.
At 18, he enrolled in skydiving classes and eventually earned his licence. His passion for aviation grew over the years, leading him to acquire commercial pilot, aircraft mechanics and parachute rigger certificates. He also completed a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering and a master’s in Aviation Safety. Before retiring in 2018, he served as an aircraft accident investigator with the US Air Force. Drawn to wingsuit flying when the specialised suits became commercially available in the mid-1990s, Greenwood bought his first suit in 1997 and pursued the sport for nearly three decades.
His journey, however, was far from smooth. Double knee replacement surgery in 2016 forced him to quit skydiving. Subsequent weight gain and a cancer diagnosis kept him grounded for several years. Determined to return to the skies, Greenwood lost an impressive 80 pounds (36 kg), overcame cancer with treatment at the Mayo Clinic and resumed jumping in 2023. Inspired by a magazine story about an earlier wingsuit record-holder, he began preparing to claim the title himself. He carefully completed the documentation and evidence required by Guinness World Records.
For Greenwood, this record is more than an extraordinary sporting achievement. It is a testament to resilience, determination and an enduring love for adventure. Even at 74, he has shown that sometimes the sky is not the limit but the beginning!
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