Britain’s Prince William passes final flying tests, becomes search-and-rescue chopper pilot
By APFriday, September 17, 2010
Prince William gets his search-and-rescue wings
LONDON — After seven months of training, Prince William is going to graduate as a fully qualified search-and-rescue helicopter pilot.
His London office said William, who is second in line to the throne, is receiving a certificate and his Royal Air Force squadron badge in a small ceremony Friday.
Known in the air force as Flight Lt. William Wales, he will fly Sea King helicopters with the search-and-rescue unit at RAF Valley, located 220 miles (350 kilometers) west of London on the Irish Sea.
William, 28, said the course was challenging, but he “enjoyed it immensely. I absolutely love flying, so it will be an honor to serve operationally with the search-and-rescue force.”
William’s younger brother Harry is training to fly Apache attack helicopters.
