Sky's the limit for speed-record pilot with some catching up to do

At the age of 62, the chartered surveyor from Harrogate is waiting to be confirmed as the first man to break 100 aviation world speed records.

He only started flying in the twilight of his career after building his own plane. He said: "I always wanted to be a commercial pilot but I was disqualified due to kidney stones at 17...But I always maintained a love for aviation and planes and around a decade ago I decided to build my own."

Thinking the UK authorities would frown on a man of his age getting his wings, he gained his pilot's licence in the US, where he originally set out to break the round-the-world speed record.

But when engine failure led to a forced landing in Ohio, he turned to attempts involving shorter distances. Now he has broken the record of 91 previously held by American adventurer Steve Fossett.

Having already got 90 official records, he is due to have his final 11 ratified by the FAI – the International Aeronautical Federation.

However, Mr Wood says his wife Belinda, 58, "doesn't like flying or any sort of travel. She suffers from motion sickness. But she puts up with it."