Aviation icon Wally Funk dies at 87 after a career spent breaking barriers

Wally Funk, the pioneering aviator who spent decades challenging barriers for women in aviation before fulfilling her lifelong dream of travelling to space, has died at the age of 87.

According to The Associated Press (AP), Funk died on Wednesday at her apartment in an assisted living facility in Grapevine, Texas. Duff O'Dell, a Grapevine City Councilwoman who described herself as Funk's caregiver, said she was by her side when she died.

O'Dell told AP that Funk had suffered several recent falls and an infection in her leg.

A career defined by firsts

Funk built a career that extended far beyond flying aircraft. She became one of the most recognisable figures in American aviation after repeatedly breaking barriers in professions traditionally dominated by men.

Among her career milestones were:

• Becoming one of the 13 women pilots selected for the Mercury 13 astronaut testing programme in the early 1960s.
• Becoming the first female inspector at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
• Becoming the first female air safety investigator at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

According to a biography released by the City of Grapevine, these achievements helped establish Funk as one of the leading female figures in aviation safety and flight operations.

Spaceflight came after decades of waiting

Although Funk successfully completed the same medical and physical tests as NASA's all-male astronaut candidates during the Mercury era, she was never selected to become a NASA astronaut.

Her opportunity to reach space finally came in 2021, when Jeff Bezos invited her to join the first crewed Blue Origin flight as an honoured guest.

At 82, Funk became the oldest person to travel into space at the time. The record was later surpassed by William Shatner and Ed Dwight, who both flew to space at the age of 90, according to AP.

Following her death, Blue Origin described Funk as a "pioneer in every sense of the word" and said it had been humbled to be part of her journey.

Inspiration for generations of women pilots

Funk's determination became one of the defining aspects of her legacy.

Speaking to AP, O'Dell described her as "the most eternally optimistic person" she had ever known. She said Funk remained determined despite repeatedly being told throughout her career that certain opportunities were unavailable to women.

Her perseverance made her a symbol of resilience for aspiring pilots and aviation professionals around the world.

Aviation legacy lives on

Tributes also came from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, who said on X that Funk "never stopped believing" she would one day reach space.

Her career spanned aviation, safety regulation and human spaceflight, leaving an impact well beyond the cockpit. From challenging barriers in the 1960s to making history aboard a commercial spacecraft six decades later, Wally Funk's achievements continue to represent progress in aviation and aerospace.