In the roaring 1920s a decade defined by jazz, daring stunts, and the thrill of pushing limits two women served up a spectacle no one had ever seen before. In 1925, Gladys Roy and Luan Unger played a full match of tennis not on the grass courts of Wimbledon or a polished gym floor, but on the narrow wing of a flying biplane, thousands of feet above the ground.
It wasn’t a dream, a trick, or a publicity stunt gone too far. It was real. And it was dangerous. But more than anything, it was unforgettable.
Women of the Wind: Who Were Gladys Roy and Luan Unger?
Gladys Roy wasn’t just a name in a headline she was one of the most daring wing-walkers and stunt performers of her time. Born in Minnesota, Roy made a name for herself not with quiet accomplishments, but with wild feats that included dancing the Charleston on airplane wings and walking blindfolded above stadiums packed with thrill-seekers.
Luan Unger, though lesser known, was no less fearless. Together, they embodied the spirit of women in the 1920s: bold, determined, and unapologetically adventurous.
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Could you play Tennis like this?!
Tennis in the Clouds
The idea sounds almost ridiculous: balancing on a narrow, vibrating wing while rallying a tennis ball back and forth. But Roy and Unger didn’t flinch. On that daring day in 1925, as their biplane soared over the skies of Los Angeles, the two women dressed in traditional tennis whites gripped their rackets and took their positions on opposite ends of the wing.
With the wind roaring and the earth far below, they played a full match while tethered loosely to the aircraft. The plane flew steady but swift, creating a real-life balancing act that no athlete had ever attempted before.
There were no spectators in the stands that day only stunned onlookers from the ground craning their necks toward the sky in disbelief.
A Statement of Fearlessness
While the spectacle was undoubtedly thrilling, it was also symbolic. Roy and Unger were part of a growing movement of women breaking free from traditional roles. In an era where women had just won the right to vote, they were proving they could also own the sky.
Their stunt wasn’t just about tennis it was about visibility. About proving that women could be bold, athletic, daring, and more than the world expected them to be.
The Roaring Twenties’ Obsession With Flight
Their airborne tennis match came during a time when aviation was still relatively new and deeply exciting. People were obsessed with flight. Pilots were celebrities. Barnstormers toured the country performing aerial tricks that left audiences gasping.
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An extremely brave woman jumps from plane to plane to mid-air to change a landing gear. 1926.
Gladys Roy, in particular, became a headline-making phenomenon. She wasn’t just wing-walking she was performing dances, playing sports, and even posing with umbrellas while tiptoeing on tailfins. Her stunts weren’t just death-defying; they were graceful, even artistic.
Tragedy and Legacy
Roy’s life was tragically cut short in 1927 when she accidentally walked into a spinning propeller on the ground during a photoshoot. She was only 25. But her legacy lives on in the annals of aviation history and in the hearts of those inspired by her fearless spirit.
Though Luan Unger eventually faded from the limelight, her contribution to that iconic moment in 1925 remains part of one of the most jaw-dropping and empowering acts of aerial history.
Why Their Story Still Matters Today
Nearly a century later, the image of two women volleying tennis balls in the sky still captures our imagination. It reminds us of a time when boundaries were being tested and redefined, especially by women with grit and vision.
Gladys Roy and Luan Unger didn’t just play a match they made history. Their airborne performance wasn’t just a stunt; it was a statement. A declaration that women could reach as high as the clouds and do it with strength, balance, and style.
