PRINCE George learns to fly at just 11 years old.
The future king enjoyed his first flight last week, on the last day of the school holidays.
6
Prince George enjoyed his first flight last weekCredit: princeandprincessofwales/Instagram
6
The royal family has a proud tradition of flying Credit: Mega Agency
An onlooker at Berkshire Airport said: “He loved it. It’s the right time to start.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales watched their son soar into the air and land safely just under an hour later.
The treat arrived on the last day of George’s school summer holidays last week.
An onlooker said: “George is only 11 but it’s a good time to start.
“The Royal Family has a proud flying tradition and it looks like George is next in line.
“His parents watched George fly from the safety of the ground, but he flew with an instructor and loved it.”
William and Kate, both 42, turned up in a three-car convoy at White Waltham airfield near Maidenhead, Berks, ten miles and 20 minutes’ drive from their home in Windsor.
George’s great-grandfather Prince Philip trained at the same airport.
Dad William is a trained helicopter pilot who flew for the RAF Search and Rescue and East Anglia Air Ambulance.
I’m an expert on body language – four key signs that Prince George is ready to become king
Wills, Kate and George also relaxed in the airport’s packed clubhouse, home to the West London Aero Club.
One person at the airport said: “There were probably 30 or 40 people in the clubhouse.
“Catherine and William watched George take off.
“But they were relaxed about it. All three were pretty chilled in the clubhouse.”
King Charles handed William the role of Air Force Commander in May.
A proud Charles then said: “It’s great that he’s a very good pilot indeed.”
The royal family has a long history of flying aircraft.
George’s great-grandfather, Prince Philip, was 31 when he began flying training at White Waltham in November 1952.
After initial training at De Havilland Chipmunk, he continued at the North American Harvard.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Chief Marshal Sir William Dickson, awarded him his “wings” in a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace in May 1953.
William and Harry were in the Army Cadet Corps at Eton College and did not receive flying lessons until they were in the army.
In 2009, William, then 27, began an intensive training program with the RAF.
6
The Piper PA28 light aircraft is like the plane George sat in for his first lesson Credit: Alamy
6
Clubhouse at White Waltham Aerodrome, home of West London Aero Club Credit: Doug Seeburg – The Sun
He first learned to fly a fixed-wing aircraft before moving on to helicopters.
In 2010, William completed his helicopter pilot training with the RAF’s Search and Rescue Force and began duty in Wales.
He later served in the East Anglia Air Ambulance.
This week, he revealed that he wants to sit down at the controls of a helicopter again.
During a visit to Wales Air Ambulance headquarters in Llanelli on Tuesday, he said: “I’d love to fly again, I might volunteer for a weekend to go back.”
Younger brother Harry, 39, followed the same fixed-wing flight training route.
He was an Apache helicopter gunner in Afghanistan in 2012.
King Charles spent four months training in the RAF and Andrew was a helicopter pilot in the 1982 Falklands War.
The connection to airplanes is equally strong on George’s mother’s side.
Kate’s dad Michael Middleton studied to be a pilot with British European Airways before working as a graduate flight dispatcher.
Her grandfather Peter Middleton flew BA jets and her mother Carole Middleton was a BA stewardess.
The West London Aero Club website describes White Waltham as “one of the oldest and most famous aerodromes in the country”.
It added: “Situated in 200 acres on the edge of a picturesque estate in the beautiful Berkshire countryside, it is also said to be the largest grass aerodrome in Britain.
“With three long runways, there is always one into the wind. The club has plenty of parking and a wonderful, relaxed atmosphere.”
6
George’s great-grandfather Prince Philip was 31 when he began flying training at White Waltham in November 1952. Credit: Rex
6
Prince William pictured at the controls of the Sea King helicopterCredit: AFP
High-flying child laws
Author: Mike Ridley
EAGER pilots can start learning to fly at any age — but the hours of training that count toward their license start at age 14.
Students must be accompanied by an instructor until the age of 16, after which they can be sent alone.
According to the instructions for obtaining a private pilot’s license from the Civil Aviation Authority, students must complete a minimum of 45 flying hours and pass nine theory tests.
Pilots can have a license and transport passengers from the age of 17.
More than 40,000 young people get the opportunity to learn from the age of 12 to 18 in the RAF Air Cadets.
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education