Lydia walks tall on wing and a prayer
Lydia Beadle always intended to be a high flyer – and now she has realised that ambition by becoming the youngest member of a world-famous airborne display team.
Lydia at 21 has been named as the newest member of the Breitling Wingwalkers, despite admitting she hates heights.
The group put on a display at the Bob Jones Memorial Air Show in Welshpool last weekend and has now signed up Powys's very own adrenaline junkie.
Lydia, who lives in Knighton, did not get the chance to perform at her home show as she was part of a display in Paris, but admitted she is "living the dream".
She said she developed a need for speed and adrenaline riding horses throughout her childhood. So when she heard about a vacancy on the team she jumped at the chance to fulfil those desires by riding on the wing of a plane instead.
Now fully trained in the art of wingwalking, Lydia, who studied hairdressing at Coleg Powys, Newtown, performs at speeds of up to 150mph as she loops and rolls through the skies at shows.
She said: "It has been an honour to work as part of a great team and experience the thrill and excitement of travelling as well as performing acrobatics on the wing.
"I'm extremely lucky to have landed such an exciting job and to fly on these beautiful biplanes.
"When you are up there it is truly an amazing feeling. You are so free and alive up there, especially when you are abroad in the sun.
"It is such a surreal experience to be flying in the heat and seeing things above for a change. It is great for being nosey and seeing where everything is."
Lydia said she heard about the job through her father and applied despite hating heights.
She said: "My dad actually heard about the job vacancy and even though I hated heights, I applied for it thinking I would be super lucky to get it as loads had applied, but here I am.
"Sadly I didn't get to perform in the Welshpool show. I do more of the European shows so I was in Paris that weekend doing a show. Flying to Paris was incredible, going over the English Channel in a open air plane, that was a highlight so far.
"This weekend I am performing at Le Meux near Paris and then Biggin Hill in London so it is pretty jet set now."
Lydia added that her favourite move is The Mirror, where she hangs upside down on the inverted plane while reaching for the hands of the wingwalker flying below her.
