Aviation pioneer Wally Funk dies at 87

RIP Wally Funk. In her youth, she was an accomplished pilot and part of a group of women tested for space flight but never allowed to become an astronaut. Six decades later, she finally made it into space at age 82. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/09/s...

Breaking News: Wally Funk, the trailblazing female pilot who, at 82, became the oldest person to fly in space, has died at 87.

She was just the coolest. Loved getting to watch her chance to finally fly to space www.nytimes.com/2026/07/09/s...

RIP Wally Funk Last of the Mercury 13 and a true aviation legend

Wally Funk. Fly Wally, Fly 🚀 nasawatch.com/2026/07/09/w... Keith's note: According to Blue Origin: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Wally Funk. Wally was a pioneer in every sense of the word."

Wally Funk has died at age 87. The aviation pioneer completed the program to become an astronaut in the early 1960s but was not allowed to go to space because she was a woman. She then became a groundbreaking flight instructor, training more than 3,000 pilots, and eventually went to space at age […]

Wally Funk, aviation pioneer and oldest woman to launch into space, dies aged 87

"Wally, you're a girl. You can't do that." Funk was one of the 'Mercury 13,' the original group of U.S. female astronauts, who while technically qualified, never made the journey. But in 2021 she finally did - fulfilling a six decade dream of flying into space. 🚀

Wally Funk, Who Set an Age Record for Space Travel, Dies at 87 As a young woman in the 1960s, she wasn’t allowed to become a NASA astronaut. She finally realized her long-held dream of flying in space as an octogenarian.

Only woman to pass alll the tests for space exploration in the 1960s- denied the opportunity to become an astronaut- finally got to go to space 5 years ago. She just passed away at 87. #RemarkableWomen www.nytimes.com/2026/07/09/s...

The New York Times reports that Wally Funk has passed away. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/09/s...

Wally Funk, a North Texas aviation pioneer, has died. Here's how she broke barriers.

RIP Wally Funk, Who Set an Age Record for Space Travel, Dies at 87 A truly amazing woman! www.nytimes.com/2026/07/09/s...

The only member of the "Mercury 13" to fly into space, Wally Funk died on Wednesday (July 8) at the age of 87.

From @washingtonpost.com: Female aviation pioneer Wally Funk passes away at age 87. Comment: Ms. Funk was a professional aviator and flight instructor long before it was acceptable for women. The so-called Mercury 13 never existed. The term was made up by a documentary producer. wapo.st/4f1TggE