Daring Edna Arnold celebrates her 100th birthday by soaring 2,000 feet in the air

A daredevil grandmother celebrated her 100th birthday – by soaring 2,000 feet in the air in a glider.

Plucky pensioner Edna Arnold was launched into the skies for a 30-minute flight which was purchased by her family as a surprise birthday gift.

The centenarian and grandmother-of-six underwent a safety briefing before pilot Andrew Watson took her to the air in Cambridge, Cambs.

Unfazed by the adventure, despite her advanced years, Edna described the experience as “very enjoyable”.

“I would recommend it to anyone, there’s nothing to be frightened of at all,” she added.

Edna’s family bought her the flying experience at Cambridge Gilding Centre as a surprise gift to mark her landmark birthday on October 11.When Edna was born in Godmanchester, Cambs., in 1916 aviation was in its infancy and the first commercial flight had only taken place two years earlier.

On the flight day on Monday (17/10) Edna was accompanied to the airfield by her family which included her three children and six grandchildren.

The family admitted the grandmother’s secret to a long life is to take things at an altogether slower pace.Her granddaughter Susanne Williams, 47, said: “She has always walked everywhere.

“She’s never driven but she always goes on long walks. She still walks everyday.

“She loved the flight. It was a surprise when she first found out she was going to do it, but she really enjoyed it.”When asked if there was anything else on her grandmother’s bucket list, Susanne added: “She has been in a hot air balloon before but other than that she does normal things for a person her age.

“I don’t think there is. She now wants to bow out gracefully.”

Edna’s adrenaline junky feat follows that of the UK’s oldest skydiver, 100-year-old Verdun Hayes, from Devon, who sky dived from 10,000 feet up to celebrate his birthday earlier this year.