Pilot and eldest sister · 22

Astra Vale

Calm hands, careful plans and a quietly funny streak: Astra helps the team aim high while keeping everyone in mind.

ProtectivePreciseQuietly funny

A little of her story

At Harbour House, Astra watched out for the younger girls. At Skylock House, she is learning that she can be looked after too.

Dawn flights, Cinnamon toast, Handwritten lists.

Rescue aircraft

A coral-and-teal tilt-wing rescue aircraft with lifting equipment for carefully bringing people to safety.

What she’s learning: Asking for help is part of leading.

Get to know Astra

Every rescue starts with a person.
These are a few of her favourite things.

A lovely day off

A quiet balcony, warm toast and a sky full of clouds to spot. Best of all: a sister who brings the tea.

Her neat to-do lists always include one important job: take a break.

Something she keeps: A slightly wonky paper plane that she and Pip folded together.

“One calm step at a time.”
— Astra

How she got here

A friendship, a family and lots of practice.

First friends
A paper-plane beginning
At Harbour House, Astra looked out for the younger girls. When her paper plane kept diving, Pip offered to help.
A family home
Room for questions
At Skylock House, Astra found people who looked after her too. Vivienne made space for all her flying questions.
Years of practice
Try, check, try again
She learnt in a practice cockpit, then checked weather, planned routes and practised gentle landings with Vivienne.
Ready together
A lift home
Now Astra flies Skylark to people who need help. She checks with her team before taking the next step.