Richard “Rich” Greenwood, 74, beat cancer and returned to the skies to become the oldest man to fly in a wingsuit, earning a Guinness World Record. The American skydiver set the mark on June 5, 2026, at 74 years and 136 days, taking the title from Wisconsin’s Robert Felt, who had achieved it at 72 years and 64 days in May 2026.
Greenwood’s love of flight began at age five, when he built tiny tissue-paper parachutes and tossed them off his family’s garage roof. At 18, he signed up for skydiving lessons. He went on to earn certificates in commercial piloting, aircraft mechanics and parachute rigging, and studied aerospace engineering and aviation safety. Before retiring in 2018, he worked as an aircraft accident investigator for the US Air Force.
He first tried a wingsuit in 1997, drawn by longer freefall and greater distance. But a double knee replacement in 2016 grounded him. He later gained weight and was diagnosed with cancer. Greenwood lost 80 pounds (about 36 kg) and received treatment at the Mayo Clinic. After recovering, he returned to skydiving in 2023.
In early 2026, a Parachutist Magazine story about an older wingsuit record-holder inspired him to try. He gathered the required documents and submitted evidence to Guinness World Records.
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