A YOUNG Welsh pilot found murdered has been described as "loving life to the full".
Pilot Steven Barrett, 27, was working out of Edinburgh Airport when he was found dead at a flat in the Scottish capital at the weekend.
The first officer, who worked for budget airline Flybe, was originally from Cardiff and had wanted to be a pilot ever since he was a child.
Police in Scotland have confirmed a 23-year-old man had been arrested and charged following the death and was due to appear in court later today.
A spokesman said: "A 23-year-old man has been charged in connection with the death of a 27-year-old man in Lochend Butterfly Way, Edinburgh in the early hours of Saturday morning.
"He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court."
Steven - known to friends as Baz - had been a teenage cadet with Rumney Squadron Air Training Corps in the Welsh capital.
A spokesman for the group said: "Thoughts go out the family of ex-cadet Steven 'Baz' Barrett at this tragic time.
"Many people who met him will have many stories to share and all of what a fun, life-loving, mischievous and committed character he was.
"We can't help but be touched at the loss of one of our own."
Steven left school to join the RAF and graduated from their flying training centre in Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorks, in 2009.
He went on to serve his country for more than two years before leaving the forces.
Steven then retrained to become a commercial airline pilot at a special school in Jerez de la Frontera in Spain.
A spokesman for the company which runs the course, Flight Training Europe, said: "Steven was a former RAF cadet.
"He joined us after they were forced to make compulsory redundancies due to the British government's financial cutbacks.
"Aware of this unfortunate situation, we tailored a special training package for redundant RAF pilots wishing to continue their aviation career as commercial pilots.
"Steven excelled throughout the course, completed his training and went on to join Flybe."
Steven, who was a fan of rugby and Formula 1 racing, was found dead at Lochend Butterfly Way, Edinburgh, in the early hours of Saturday.
Friends and colleagues took to Facebook to pay tribute him yesterday.
Pal Jay Pugh said: "Steven did everything he set out to do in his life, he was one of my closest, and best friends - Steven I will truly miss you."
Another friend, Leigh Jameson, wrote: "The world will be a quieter place without you. You will be sorely missed by all. Rest In Peace Steven."
Scott Edmed, who served alongside the pilot in the forces, said: "RIP Steven, I always looked up to you in the RAF and so glad I met you."
And flight attendant, Caitlin Laird, wrote: "My thoughts are with Steven's family and friends. So unbelievably tragic. Rest in peace."
Pilot Steven Barrett, 27, was working out of Edinburgh Airport when he was found dead at a flat in the Scottish capital at the weekend.
The first officer, who worked for budget airline Flybe, was originally from Cardiff and had wanted to be a pilot ever since he was a child.
Police in Scotland have confirmed a 23-year-old man had been arrested and charged following the death and was due to appear in court later today.
A spokesman said: "A 23-year-old man has been charged in connection with the death of a 27-year-old man in Lochend Butterfly Way, Edinburgh in the early hours of Saturday morning.
"He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court."
Steven - known to friends as Baz - had been a teenage cadet with Rumney Squadron Air Training Corps in the Welsh capital.
A spokesman for the group said: "Thoughts go out the family of ex-cadet Steven 'Baz' Barrett at this tragic time.
"Many people who met him will have many stories to share and all of what a fun, life-loving, mischievous and committed character he was.
"We can't help but be touched at the loss of one of our own."
Steven left school to join the RAF and graduated from their flying training centre in Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorks, in 2009.
He went on to serve his country for more than two years before leaving the forces.
Steven then retrained to become a commercial airline pilot at a special school in Jerez de la Frontera in Spain.
A spokesman for the company which runs the course, Flight Training Europe, said: "Steven was a former RAF cadet.
"He joined us after they were forced to make compulsory redundancies due to the British government's financial cutbacks.
"Aware of this unfortunate situation, we tailored a special training package for redundant RAF pilots wishing to continue their aviation career as commercial pilots.
"Steven excelled throughout the course, completed his training and went on to join Flybe."
Steven, who was a fan of rugby and Formula 1 racing, was found dead at Lochend Butterfly Way, Edinburgh, in the early hours of Saturday.
Friends and colleagues took to Facebook to pay tribute him yesterday.
Pal Jay Pugh said: "Steven did everything he set out to do in his life, he was one of my closest, and best friends - Steven I will truly miss you."
Another friend, Leigh Jameson, wrote: "The world will be a quieter place without you. You will be sorely missed by all. Rest In Peace Steven."
Scott Edmed, who served alongside the pilot in the forces, said: "RIP Steven, I always looked up to you in the RAF and so glad I met you."
And flight attendant, Caitlin Laird, wrote: "My thoughts are with Steven's family and friends. So unbelievably tragic. Rest in peace."