Prince George ‘is learning to fly at just 11 – after enjoying his first hour-long flight last week as Kate and William watched from the ground’
Prince George is ‘already learning to fly’. On the last day of the summer holidays he made his first flight.
According to The sunthe future king ‘enjoyed’ his first flight at White Waltham Airfield near Maidenhead.
According to reports, the Prince and Princess of Wales watched as the 11-year-old boy took off from the runway with an instructor and landed safely less than an hour later.
William and Kate arrived with George in a three-car convoy at Berkshire Airport, about ten miles from their home in Windsor.
After the flight, the three royals are said to have relaxed at the airport’s clubhouse, home to the West London Aero Club.
Prince George enjoyed his first flight in the last week of his school holidays
The future king is said to have been ‘mad’ on his first flight at White Waltham airfield near Maidenhead (Note: this photo is from 2017, when the Prince visited Airbus in Hamburg, Germany)
According to reports, the Prince and Princess of Wales witnessed the 11-year-old boy take off from the runway and return safely to land just under an hour later. (Note: This photo is from 2016, during a visit to the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford)
An onlooker said: ‘George is only 11 years old but it’s the right time to start. The Royal Family has a proud tradition of flying and it looks like George is next.
‘His parents watched George take to the air from the ground, but he flew with an instructor and loved it.’
Someone at the airport said there were ’30 or 40 people’ in the clubhouse while William, Kate and George were there, adding that ‘all three were pretty relaxed’.
Pilots can start learning to fly at any age, but the training hours that count toward a pilot’s license begin at age 14.
Up to the age of 16, students must be accompanied by an instructor. After that, they may go out alone.
To obtain a private pilot’s license, students must complete a minimum of 45 hours of flying under the supervision of the Civil Aviation Authority and pass nine theory exams.
Pilots may obtain a pilot’s license and transport passengers from the age of 17.
George wants to follow in the footsteps of his many family members who have flown aircraft throughout history.
His father William is a qualified helicopter pilot who has flown for RAF Search and Rescue and East Anglia Air Ambulance, while his great-grandfather Prince Philip trained at the same airfield in Maidenhead.
Phillip was 31 when he began his flight training at White Waltham in November 1952, after which he continued his training at Harvard North America.
At a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace in May 1953, the Duke of Edinburgh received his wings from the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir William Dickson.
His sons William and Harry were both in the Army Cadet Corps at Eton College and did not receive flying lessons until they were in the army.
In 2009, William began an intensive training programme with the RAF, where he learned to fly aeroplanes and helicopters at the age of 27.
George’s great-grandfather, Prince Philip (pictured next to his grandson in 2021), trained at the same airfield in Maidenhead
William and Harry were both in the Army Cadet Corps at Eton College and did not receive flying lessons until they were in the army.
In May, King Charles handed over the role of Colonel-Commander-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to William
Prince William revealed he would ‘love’ to fly helicopters again during a visit to Wales Air Ambulance headquarters in Llanelli, South Wales today
William is pictured leaning against a helicopter during a visit to the Army Air Corps in 1999
William is pictured at the controls of a Sea King helicopter during a training exercise on Holyhead Mountain after flying from RAF Valley in Anglesey, North Wales, on March 31, 2011.
In 2010, he completed his training as a helicopter pilot with the RAF Search and Rescue Force, and then flew an air ambulance for two years before stepping down to take on more royal duties on behalf of Queen Elizabeth.
He was known as Flight Lieutenant Wales while serving with the RAF at Angelsey, North Wales.
During his three-year tour, he participated in 156 search and rescue operations, saving 149 people.
William has flown his family around by helicopter in the past, including to the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Earlier this week, William revealed he would ‘love’ to fly helicopters again during a visit to Wales Air Ambulance headquarters in Llanelli, South Wales.
Britain’s King Charles III poses with service personnel after officially handing over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to Prince William
Prince William, Prince of Wales, sits in an Apache helicopter at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop, on May 13, 2024
He revealed that there were plans to fly the Wales Air Ambulance from its base in Cardiff Bay.
He said, ‘I’d like to fly again, I could volunteer for a weekend to come back.’
In May of this year, Willem took off in an Apache helicopter after being crowned leader of his brother’s former army regiment by King Charles.
Prince Harry qualified as an Apache helicopter commander in 2013 after three years of training.
If Harry and Meghan had not stepped down as working royals in 2020, the appointment to colonel-in-chief would likely have been his.
