Ex-RAF man John Brown is preparing to be strapped to the wing of a vintage biplane tomorrow to celebrate his 80th birthday.

His leather flying helmet is at the ready and a friend has stitched all his military badges on his flying suit so he cuts a dash as he swoops and soars through the air almost 30 years after he hung up his uniform.

His wingwalking feat of derring do is set to raise around £1,500 in sponsorship for Wiltshire Air Ambulance, much of it offered since he appeared in the Advertiser back in June.

As soon as the story hit our website he was contacted by military news organisations and TV companies.

Former colleagues from all over the world, including Canada, Singapore and Australia got in touch to offer their support and give him banter about his unusual way of celebrating his birthday.

"It has been a wonderful experience listening to people questioning my sanity,” he said. “Three of them are ex-station commanders from Lyneham and one of them said: 'I always knew you were crackers anyway.'”

Great grandfather Mr Brown, of Upper Stratton, spent 33 years as an air loadmaster, but he has never flown on the outside of an aircraft before and he is looking forward to it.

“I'm not in the least apprehensive,” he said.

He decided on the wingwalk as a way of raising money for the air ambulance because his disabled wife liked to see it landing when she was being treated at the Great Western Hospital. He had looked after her for 14 years.

Staff at Tyco electronics where his son works have sponsored him to the tune of £300, workers at the Coventry Building Society where his daughter is employed have added another £100. Pubs, service organisations and other have all chipped in.

He takes to the air tomorrow afternoon courtesy of the Breitling Wingwalkers at Rendcomb Airfield near Cirencester.

Anyone who wants to sponsor him online can make a donation in his name direct to the air ambulance at wiltshireairambulance.co.uk