MoD Defends William's Chinook Flight to Stag Party
The MoD has come to Prince William's defence after he used a Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter as a means of transporting himself, as well as Prince Harry, to the Isle of Wight for a stag party.
The flight occurred on the 11th April - just hours after William had received his RAF wings in a ceremony held at RAF Cranwell. During it, he flew the large helicopter to London, collected Prince Harry, then journeyed onwards to the Isle of Wight.
Prince's Flight Training
According to the MoD, the flight formed a component of the Prince's ongoing flight training, incorporating such elements as flying in crowded areas of the sky, flying over water, and carrying out a landing on an urban helicopter pad.
A spokesman for the MoD explained the flight further:
"The Prince's training was designed to give him an insight into the many roles of the Royal Air Force", he said.
"Having spent a week under instruction with a Chinook helicopter squadron Prince William flew a legitimate training sortie which tested his new skills to the limit.
"Flying at low level Prince William piloted the heavy support RAF Chinook helicopter through the busy London flying lanes to a helicopter landing site in Central London before departing the lanes to the South West, making a water crossing and an approach to a civilian airfield routinely used by Chinook squadrons."
The Prince's flying instructor - whose identity has not been disclosed - added: "Prince William showed natural piloting skills and an ability to pick things up quickly.
"His final flight tested his burgeoning flying skills to the full and he performed very well indeed."
The stag party itself was that of Peter Phillips - son of the Princess Royal - who is to be wed in May.
Source - Armed Forces International's Aviation Expert
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