EX-RAF man John Brown is already planning his next stunt after wingwalking to celebrate his 80th birthday.

The former air loadmaster’s feet had hardly touched the ground when he declared: “I’m thinking about a bungee jump for my 85th, but that might be a bit optimistic.”

Family and former colleagues from around the country were at Rendcomb on Wednesday to see Mr Brown, from Upper Stratton, soar and swoop over the airfield strapped to the wing of a vintage Boeing Stearman.

Son Peter said: “I think it’s great. I wasn’t surprised at all. The flying is in the blood.”

His friend and former colleague Martyn Webster drove down from Yorkshire to see the flight.

“He’s done a lot of flying but it was inside the aircraft, although as an air loadmaster you used to work by the open door,” he said.

Mr Brown, who was in the RAF for 33 years and served at Lyneham, showed no sign of nerves as he climbed onto the top wing. Minutes later the aircraft was taking off into the blue sky and roaring over the spectators’ heads.

Even as the plane dived and turned he gave them a cheery wave and when it finally came into land he said: “It was fantastic. Exhilarating, just as I thought it would be. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

He told the Advertiser: “I’ve got 10,000 hours in the air on transport aircraft, but that’s nothing like this.”

Mr Brown chose the challenge because his disabled wife, who he looked after for 14 years, used to enjoy seeing the air ambulance land while she was in hospital. But he admitted she would have hated the idea of him wingwalking.

When the Adver revealed his plan forces organisations and TV companies all got in contact. As a result of the publicity donations rocketed from £100 to around £1,500 and ex-military colleagues from all over the world got in touch.

Among his local sponsors were his walking football team, Westlecote Bowls Club, Terry James Motors in Cricklade, the Crown Hotel at Stratton and the Merchiston surgery.

Rebecca de la Bedoyere, Senior Fundraising Manager at Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “We’re delighted that John completed his wing walk and enjoyed it.

"People often challenge themselves to raise money for Wiltshire Air Ambulance, such as running a half marathon or climbing a mountain, but wing walking is certainly one of the more unusual methods!

"We’d like to thank John for raising funds for Wiltshire Air Ambulance and the amount he has raised will help to keep our helicopter and crew flying and saving lives all over the county.

"As a charity, we rely almost entirely on public donations and have to raise £3.25 million a year. ”