Wally Funk's remarkable journey has come to an end at the age of 87, leaving behind a legacy that will inspire generations of female pilots. The pioneering aviatrix made history in 2021 by becoming the oldest woman to travel to space on a Blue Origin flight, but her contributions to aviation go far beyond this milestone.
Born on 1 February 1939, Funk's dedication to flying began at Stephens College in Missouri, where she received her flying licence. She went on to study education at Oklahoma State University, earning a place on the prestigious Flying Aggies team. The programme, known for its demanding flight training, would be just one of many challenges Funk faced throughout her career.
As part of NASA's privately funded Women in Space programme, dubbed the Mercury 13, Funk was tested alongside 12 other female pilots to see if they had what it took to become astronauts. The gruelling physical and psychological assessments were designed to push the women to their limits, but Funk proved herself to be one of the top performers, earning the title of youngest woman to graduate from the programme.
Despite being denied a chance to join NASA's astronaut corps, Funk refused to give up on her dreams. She went on to own a flying school in Taos, New Mexico, teaching private and commercial aviation skills to hundreds of students. With over 19,600 flying hours logged under her belt, Funk was an experienced instructor who had taught more than 3,000 people how to fly.