For Helen Tempest, who has been wing-walking for 22 years, a love of aerobatics is in the blood.

"My father's a display pilot, I used to go to airshows when I was little and watch him fly," she explained.

"One of the display acts that he did was wing-walking and it just intrigued me, it was such a magical thing to watch."

Thrill

She described her first wing-walking experience.

"I was strapped to the top wing of a Tiger Moth aeroplane, we did a press day up near Birmingham, and I was diving round trees and having the most exciting time.

I can't believe I've been able to turn it into a career

Helen Tempest

"I thought that was the only time I'd get to do it and I can’t believe I've been able to turn it into a career.

"I'm apparently one of world's most experienced wing-walkers because we fly about 100 shows a year around Europe and throught the UK, and there really aren't that many other teams who do that amount of display flying."

Aerobatics

Helen's world-renowned display team will be appearing at Kemble Air Day on Sunday June 20.

"We're going to be bringing two of our planes to the shows," she said, "and performing a variety of aerobatics including a mirror, where I fly upside down and the other aeroplanes flies in very close formation underneath, forming a mirror image.

So you're literally standing on the aeroplane on tiptoe

Helen Tempest

"In the last manouvre we undo all our safety harnesses and climb from the top wing down to the front seat below, and perform an arabesque as we go.

"So you're literally standing on the aeroplane on tiptoe, on one foot, the other leg trailing behind you, holding on with one hand and waving goodbye to the crowd with the other."

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