74-Year-Old Sets World Record for Oldest Wingsuit Jump

At 74 years old, most people are thinking about slowing down. Richard Greenwood decided to break a world record instead.

On June 5, the Albuquerque resident jumped from a plane over Valencia County, New Mexico, and became the oldest person ever to complete a wingsuit jump. He beat the previous record holder by seven years, landing on his feet at Belen Regional Airport after more than a minute of flight.

"To be honest, it was just another jump for me," Greenwood said with the calm confidence of someone who's made nearly 4,000 skydives.

But this wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. When 67-year-old Thomas Conner set the previous record in August 2025, Greenwood saw an opportunity. After 30 years of flying wingsuits on and off, he knew he could do it.

Greenwood's love affair with the sky began at age 5, when he'd craft tiny parachutes from tissue paper and Scotch tape, then throw them off his garage roof. The moment he turned 18 in 1970, he signed up for his first jump in Wisconsin.

Back then, skydivers used bulky military surplus gear that was heavier and less reliable than today's equipment. None of that mattered to Greenwood. He was hooked from that first jump.

Why This Inspires

Greenwood's story isn't just about setting records. It's about refusing to let setbacks define you.

In 1995, he had to stop jumping after getting both knees replaced. Then he gained weight. Then came cancer.

Most people would have called it quits. Greenwood took an eight-year break, beat cancer, lost 80 pounds, and came back stronger. He's been jumping once or twice a week ever since, racking up jumps across Israel, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

Kenny Currier, who jumped alongside Greenwood in June, calls him an inspiration. "To be able to do that with the wingsuit takes a lot of training and a lot of skill," he said.

Now Greenwood has his sights set on another milestone. He wants to reach 4,000 total jumps before he retires from the sport. He only needs about 150 more.

As he soared over Valencia County that June day, Greenwood wasn't thinking about glory or world records. He was focused on flying a straight pattern back to the drop zone, doing what he's loved for 56 years.

When you find your passion and refuse to let age or obstacles stop you, the sky really is the limit.