Prince Harry Becomes A Pilot

According to reports, Prince Harry has now completed a course that allows him to fly British Army helicopters. The official statement from London says that the prince passed his final test earlier this week. He’ll receive his wins on May 7 from non other than Prince Charles, his father.

Prince Harry is currently third in line for the British throne, after his father and older brother, Williams. In the military, though, he’s just Lt. Harry Wales, and with his training, he’ll fly either Lynx or Apache helicopters for the Army Air Corps. Brother William is also a pilot in training, learning how to fly search and rescue helicopters.

The boys are the only ones in the family with an interest in flying. Prince Charles qualified to fly helicopters in the 1970s, and their uncle, Prince Andrew, was a Royal Navy helicopter pilot during the Falklands Wars.

Taking the course has increased the likelihood that Prince Harry will be sent back to Afghanistan, one of the most dangerous regions in the world. He severed there previously for a few months before reporters outed him and he was pulled out, with worries that he’d be a main target. Says the 25-year-old, “I’m really enjoying in and, as everyone knows, it’s my easiest way of getting back to the front line. Maybe safer, maybe not, I don’t know. To get out to Afghanistan again would be fantastic and my best chance is to do it from a helicopter.”

Img credit: Nick Warner