Flying High at Tea Time

In the UK, having a cup of tea is practically synonymous with taking a break – but not for Royal Air Force serviceman Stewart Hefti.

Corporal Hefti, who recovered from serious leg injuries sustained in Basra, Iraq, two years ago, set a world record for flying the most loop-the-loops (14) while drinking a cup of tea.

Hefti, 27, completed the loops at the RAF Museum in honor of the launch of a fundraiser for RAF personnel and their families. The fundraiser is for the Brew for the Few, named after Winston Churchill’s famous ''never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few'' speech, which celebrated RAF bravery in World War II.  

''When we first took off I was more worried about the tea staying in the cup, but after the first loop I realized it would and I started to enjoy it more," Hefti, 27, told the UK’s The Telegraph. ''It was only after we landed that I started to feel a bit queasy."

Hefti, whose squadron came under fire in 2007, killing one of its members, told the Telegraph: ''I just wanted to give something back to the RAF Association who did so much for me and my family after my injury.'' Hefti rejoined his squadron in Afghanistan earlier this year.

We'll drink to that!

Photo courtesy of williewonker via Flickr.