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vagabond 04-11-2008 08:00 AM
Prince William: Competent, Not Operational
 
I guess we don't have to worry about this old chap competing for scarce pilot jobs.

From Associated Press:

LONDON - Britain's Prince William graduated as a military pilot on Friday, following in the footsteps of his father, Prince Charles, who passed his training in 1971.

Charles, wearing full military dress, fixed the traditional insignia badge to his son's left breast at a ceremony at an air force base in eastern England.

William's girlfriend, Kate Middleton, and his father's wife, Camilla, also attended the ceremony.

William spent four months with Britain's Royal Air Force learning to pilot helicopters and planes. His study was designed to make him a competent, but not operational, flier.

British fighter jet pilots normally spend up to four years under instruction.

William has already graduated as an army officer and is due to serve a tour overseas, most likely on board a navy warship. His younger brother, Harry, returned from Afghanistan in February.

blastoff 04-11-2008 08:16 AM
Originally Posted by vagabond (Post 360933)
I guess we don't have to worry about this old chap competing for scarce pilot jobs.
I've been waiting for him to post a thread on here:

"Help me I'm stuck....I want to continue my training and be an airline pilot but my dad wants me to be King of England."

stinsonjr 04-11-2008 02:17 PM
I always wondered how good these guys end up being. I know Charles is a pilot, and Andy actually went operational during the Falklands war, but I wonder if most of the royals simply go through solo or something and then never touch a flying machine again. Harry seems ok, but William would probably be a GoJet type guy.

Senior Skipper 04-11-2008 03:56 PM
From the little I know, their training touches a little bit of each field. Thus, they are not operational, but it's basically there to say you did it. I wouldn't trust them much beyond taking me to the holding poin though :D

rickair7777 04-11-2008 04:04 PM
Originally Posted by stinsonjr (Post 361302)
I always wondered how good these guys end up being. I know Charles is a pilot, and Andy actually went operational during the Falklands war, but I wonder if most of the royals simply go through solo or something and then never touch a flying machine again. Harry seems ok, but William would probably be a GoJet type guy.
They seem somewhat more protected these days. Both Charles and Andy were considered competent military officers, according to brit exchange officers I worked with. IIIRC, charles flew a variety of aircraft and andy served a full career.


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