Jan 7, 2008 1:03 pm US/Pacific
Prince William Takes To The Skies
Flying Lessons Mark Start Of His Stint With The RAF
LONDON (AP) ―
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Prince William was due to begin his course on Monday with around 10 other students at the RAF Cranwell base in eastern England, the air force said.
AP
Britain's Prince William began taking flying lessons this week at the start of a four-month assignment with the Royal Air Force, according to the military.
The prince was due to begin his course on Monday with around 10 other students at the RAF Cranwell base in eastern England, the air force said. He will be known as Flying Officer William Wales, and will train on helicopters as well as fixed-wing aircraft.
The commander of the air force flying school said if William was successful he would be awarded his RAF wings. He added that a graduation ceremony is planned for April.
William, 25, is following in the footsteps of his father, Prince Charles, in serving with all three branches of the armed forces. The British monarch is symbolic head of the forces, and William is second in line to the throne, behind his father.
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Prince William graduated from Sandhurst military academy in December 2006 and has spent the last year as a second lieutenant in the army's Blues and Royals cavalry regiment. His younger brother, Harry, 23, is also an officer in the Blues and Royals.
William will undergo a shortened version of the air force's standard pilot training course and will follow his stint in the air force with several months with the Royal Navy.
Some questioned the training for William at a time when the military complains of being overstretched due to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A spokesperson from the anti-monarchist group Republic, called the prince's flying lessons "a disgraceful waste of resources."
The royal family has a long tradition of military service. Prince Charles completed pilot training at RAF Cranwell in 1971. William's uncle, Prince Andrew, flew Sea King helicopters with the Royal Navy during the 1982 Falklands War.
Prince William's grandfather, Prince Philip, saw active service with the navy throughout World War II.
Queen Elizabeth II, William's grandmother, was trained as a truck driver with the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War II.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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