'It felt like we were birds': Joy of nine-year-old cousins as they become world's youngest formation wingwalkers
- Rose Powell and Flame Brewer took to the skies in Gloucestershire
- Cousins wingwalked on two of their grandfather’s vintage biplanes
- Third generation of their families to wingwalk on Boeing Stearman
- Inspired by plight of friend, six, with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Reaching speeds of up to 100mph and flying only yards apart, these breaktaking photographs show how two nine-year-old girls today became the world’s youngest formation wingwalkers.
Rose Powell, of Wandsworth, south-west London, and Flame Brewer, of Kensal Rise, north-west London, took to the skies on two of their grandfather’s vintage biplanes over Gloucestershire.
The cousins became the third generation of their families to wingwalk on the Boeing Stearman aircraft when they took off from RFC Rendcomb airfield, near Cirencester.
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Exciting: Rose Powell, of Wandsworth, south-west London, and Flame Brewer, of Kensal Rise, north-west London, took to the skies on two of their grandfather's vintage biplanes over Gloucestershire
Good effort: Rose (left) and Flame (right) became the third generation of their families to wingwalk on the Boeing Stearman aircraft when they took off from RFC Rendcomb airfield, near Cirencester
Achievement: Nine-year-old cousins Rose Powell (left) and Flame Brewer (right) wingwalking over Rendcomb Airfield near Cirencester for charity, becoming the World's youngest formation wingwalkers
Thumbs up: Nine-year-old Rose Powell prepares to go wing-walking over Rendcomb Airfield near Cirencester
They were inspired to undertake the feat by the plight of their six-year-old friend Eli Crossley, who suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
His parents have set up the Duchenne Children’s Trust to raise money to research a treatment or cure in time to save Eli’s life.
The girls’ grandfather, Vic Norman, was at the controls of Rose’s plane while Martyn Carrington, director of flying at Aerosuperbatics Ltd, piloted Flame’s aircraft.
Rose, who attends Thomas’s Day School in Fulham, south-west London, likes animals, chocolate and ‘anything pink’, as well as wingwalking.
Speaking minutes after getting down from the plane, she said: ‘That was amazing. It’s really hard to explain what it’s like. It just felt like we were birds soaring over the neighbourhood.
‘It was really cool. When we were up in the air the houses were like Lego blocks. I was a little bit frightened but once I was in the air and having fun I got over it, it was really fun.
For charity: The cousins were inspired to undertake the feat by the plight of their six-year-old friend Eli Crossley, who suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
In safe hands: The girls’ grandfather, Vic Norman, was at the controls of Rose’s plane while Martyn Carrington, director of flying at Aerosuperbatics Ltd, piloted Flame’s aircraft
In awe: Rose (left) said that the wingwalking 'felt like we were birds soaring over the neighbourhood¿
Helping hand: The parents of their six-year-old friend Eli Crossley have set up the Duchenne Children's Trust to raise money to research a treatment or cure in time to save Eli's life
‘It’s quite scary when you take off but if you like mega funfair rides I think you’ll find the take-off really cool. The best bit was probably taking off or doing the Superwoman pose.’
'It was really cool. When we were up in the air the houses were like Lego blocks'
Rose Powell
Rose added: ‘It was really cold and I am still shivering but I’m really glad I’ve done it now - (I’d) definitely do it again.
‘It feels really nice to have done something to help Eli and hopefully get lots of people to know about the Duchenne Children’s Trust.
‘It is dreadful that the older children like Eli get, the less able they become to do things that I take for granted.’
Flame, a pupil at Notting Hill Preparatory School in West London, loves animals and art and is also a keen drummer. She said: ‘It was really, really fun and really, really windy.
Smoking: Reaching speeds of up to 100mph and flying only metres apart, the girls broke the world record
On the ground: Flame, who goes to school in Notting Hill, said it was 'really, really fun and really, really windy'
Impressive: Flame (left) and Rose (right) became the world's youngest wingwalkers at RFC Rendcomb Airfield
Congratulations: Happy Brewer hugs his daughter Flame after the cousins achieved their spectacular feat
‘The best bit is just being in the air. My cousin and I came up with the idea to be the youngest formation wingwalking team and wanted to help Eli together.’
DMD: THE MOST COMMON GENETIC KILLER OF CHILDREN WORLDWIDE
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is the most common genetic killer of children worldwide.
The disease is caused by a mistake on the genetic code in a gene called dystrophin which is found on the X chromosome.
Although girls may carry the mistake, they have two X chromosomes, so the healthy one cancels out the faulty one.
But boys have only one X chromosome so they are more likely to be affected.
The effect is that children suffering from the disease cannot produce dystrophin, a protein necessary for muscle survival.
As a result, every skeletal muscle in the body deteriorates. It is 100 per cent fatal and there is no cure. Most boys die in their early 20s from heart or respiratory failure.
The Duchenne Children’s Trust is working to find a cure for the disease in 10 years.
Mr Norman, who has had a pilot’s licence since he was 17, said he was not nervous about the flight because it was in perfect weather conditions.
‘It was a double responsibility for me because it was my grandchildren,’ he said.
‘I was more worried about whether they were going to enjoy it because although they have wanted to do it every year from the age of three, I’ve always said no.
‘What I’m most proud about on this occasion, when they asked again, I said “no” but they said “Hang on, grandad, there’s this friend of ours with this terrible disease and we want to raise awareness because no one knows about it”.’
‘They gave me the whole story and I said “OK, on this occasion I’ll give in and we’ll do it once”.
‘That’s why I’m so proud of them - they really wanted to do it. I feel it is fantastic that nine-year-old girls feel they can help in this way.’
Emily Crossley, Eli’s mother and founder of the Duchenne Children’s Trust, said: ‘We are very honoured that Rose and Flame are wingwalking to break a world record to help raise awareness of our charity.
‘This is a disease that desperately needs a cure. For other young children to be moved to help our child and hundreds of thousands of boys like him is very humbling.’
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