97-Year-Old Sets Record Flying in Zero Gravity

Robert Gordon McAfee spent his childhood in the foothills of Appalachia gazing up at the stars, wondering what it would feel like to fly among them. Last February, at 97 years old, he finally got his answer when he became the oldest person ever to experience zero gravity flight.

The World War II veteran traveled to San Jose, California with Zero G lunar spaceflight company for the record-breaking journey. During the short flight to the peak of Earth's atmosphere, Robert floated weightlessly through the cabin, experiencing the sensation he'd imagined since childhood.

Robert's granddaughter Kait flew alongside him, honoring both his military service and the memory of his brother JG McAfee, who had taught him to fly decades earlier. She had listened to his spaceflight dreams for years and finally encouraged him to make them real.

The preparation for the flight showed Robert's characteristic determination. When a doctor refused to provide medical clearance, Robert didn't give up. Instead, he wrote his own approval note, declaring the refusal was simply the doctor's limit, not his own.

Robert stayed active for the journey by maintaining his daily walks and focusing on his physical health. After retiring as a psychiatrist at 85, he had already proven that age was just a number when it came to living fully.

Why This Inspires

Robert's story reminds us that dreams don't come with expiration dates. From his childhood in East Tennessee exploring forests and creeks, to serving his country in World War II, to practicing medicine in Kansas for decades, Robert lived a full life on solid ground. But he never stopped looking up at the stars.

His journey happened in February 2025, more than nine decades after that young boy first wondered what flying would feel like. The wait didn't diminish the dream. If anything, it made the moment of weightlessness even sweeter.

After 97 years on Earth, Robert Gordon McAfee finally got to float among the stars he'd watched for so long.