Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Aircrew Forums > Rotorheads
Reload this Page >

Apparently Prince Harry Can't Fly a Helicopter

Wikiposts
Search
Rotorheads A haven for helicopter professionals to discuss the things that affect them

Apparently Prince Harry Can't Fly a Helicopter

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 3rd Oct 2017, 18:44
  #61 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: yorkshire uk
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I can assure you crab is quite correct .... If anything the bar was set higher for them . No favours . i know it to be true but I guess if you want to believe otherwise that your right !!!
nigelh is offline  
Old 3rd Oct 2017, 18:48
  #62 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: The back of beyond
Posts: 2,131
Received 173 Likes on 89 Posts
I can assure you crab is quite correct .... If anything the bar was set higher for them . No favours . i know it to be true but I guess if you want to believe otherwise that your right !!!

Bar set higher, you say? Well, there we go then - superior Windsor genes it is then.
melmothtw is offline  
Old 3rd Oct 2017, 18:54
  #63 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: mids
Age: 58
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I can't see anything special being done for them to be honest training or standards wise.

Price Edwards left the Royals after 4 months no cutting back of standards there.

I wouldn't be surprised if the lads were members of this forum either.
tescoapp is offline  
Old 3rd Oct 2017, 18:58
  #64 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Stockport MAN/EGCC
Age: 70
Posts: 991
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Can't comment about Helicopters and Prince Henry but when his brother decided to ride a motorbike he had to do the full metropolitan police advanced bike course and by all accounts passed it by a considerable margin with great finesse. to the intense chagrin of a very small number who doubted he could do it. Trust me on a police driving course there is nowhere to hide. Cant see the military cutting corners for either of them.
Be lucky
David
P.S. So did his protection team !

Last edited by The AvgasDinosaur; 3rd Oct 2017 at 19:53. Reason: To add P.S.
The AvgasDinosaur is offline  
Old 3rd Oct 2017, 19:05
  #65 (permalink)  
Guest
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,264
Received 180 Likes on 106 Posts
Melmoth,

I'm not of the 'old guard', though some of the yoof knocking around might disagree. While I'm fortunate enough to have some half decent exam results, 3 of my colleagues at Linton had the 'minimum requirements' set by the recruitment bods at the time. Didn't do them any harm (decent FJ pilots, though a couple did become QFI's).

Also, flying does have a tendency to 'run in the genes' in much the same way that sporting families tend to have sporting kids . Some of it is nurture and some of it is nature, but a lot of it is self belief.
Seriously, there's a chip on that shoulder. Let it go. They're both good lads in their own right (lucky enough to have worked with both of them) who would have no issues if their surname was Smith.
PPRuNeUser0211 is offline  
Old 3rd Oct 2017, 19:21
  #66 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: UK
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by melmothtw
Didn't say anything about them being privately educated. I am myself so really don't have a chip on either shoulder about that. And again I have nothing against them personally - I would agree with everything you said about them.

Look, when it comes to the royals and military flying there is one of three things going on:

1. Every Windsor is a natural born aviator, and there is never any question as to them being selected for pilot training or excelling at it once selected.

2. Military flying just isn't that difficult, and anyone can do it.

3. They get given the opportunity regardless of their ability, because of who they are.

There is no fourth option.

Now, you choose to believe option 1. I believe it to be option 3. I don't think there's going to be any meeting of minds on the subject, so there we go.
I would also make the point that the Air Corps milked the exposure for all it was worth, so it really was a two way street. Harry had to put in the hard yards, end of. Try walking one of the Poles then returning for a two week Ex in a tent ooop north. There are NO FREE RIDES in an Apache.
Rotate too late is offline  
Old 3rd Oct 2017, 19:51
  #67 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: North Up
Posts: 489
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
the Air Corps milked the exposure for all it was worth
Cazalet33 is offline  
Old 3rd Oct 2017, 21:01
  #68 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 343
Received 9 Likes on 6 Posts
Now if I had walked in to the CIO with crap academic quals and admitted to drug use, would I be selected for a commission?
I did, I mean the drugs thing didn't come up until the AIB but they seemed to be more suspicious of the one candidate who swore he'd never tried them.
Bing is offline  
Old 3rd Oct 2017, 21:40
  #69 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: EGDC
Posts: 10,321
Received 622 Likes on 270 Posts
There is no fourth option.
the fourth one is the one you won't see, even though you don't know them and have no idea what they went through to join up.

The fourth option is that they were inevitably going to join the military (that happens in plenty of families) they both wanted to fly and they both had to meet the entry criteria (medical, academic and selection tests), then they both worked hard during training and met the same or higher standards than their course-mates.

However, melmoth, you seem to know better hope you are wearing your tinfoil hat so the security services can't spy on you for thinking anti-royal thoughts - it is all part of a conspiracy isn't it?
crab@SAAvn.co.uk is offline  
Old 4th Oct 2017, 05:04
  #70 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: The back of beyond
Posts: 2,131
Received 173 Likes on 89 Posts
Originally Posted by [email protected]
the fourth one is the one you won't see, even though you don't know them and have no idea what they went through to join up.

The fourth option is that they were inevitably going to join the military (that happens in plenty of families) they both wanted to fly and they both had to meet the entry criteria (medical, academic and selection tests), then they both worked hard during training and met the same or higher standards than their course-mates.

However, melmoth, you seem to know better hope you are wearing your tinfoil hat so the security services can't spy on you for thinking anti-royal thoughts - it is all part of a conspiracy isn't it?
That's actually the first option crab, but hey ho.
melmothtw is offline  
Old 4th Oct 2017, 07:04
  #71 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: EGDC
Posts: 10,321
Received 622 Likes on 270 Posts
Every Windsor is a natural born aviator, and there is never any question as to them being selected for pilot training or excelling at it once selected.
That was your actual first option - they would not have been selected for pilot training without passing that selection process on their own merits.

There are very few natural born aviators (and neither prince is), people just work hard during training to achieve the standard.

I'm sure your prejudice won't let you accept that.

Would you be happier that they spent their whole lives as playboys because that would satisfy your green-eyed gaze at those young men whose lives (in your view) are a constant stream of privilege and elitist opportunity?
crab@SAAvn.co.uk is offline  
Old 4th Oct 2017, 07:33
  #72 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Bar to Bar
Posts: 796
Received 9 Likes on 2 Posts
Ex AAC commissioned from the ranks. HIstory O level (B) and Maths GCSE (Grade 2). Education is a tangible yardstick of ability to learn but a lack of educational certificates are not proof of an inability to learn.
Sloppy Link is offline  
Old 4th Oct 2017, 08:57
  #73 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Brum
Posts: 852
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Melmoth
I've always had the greatest admiration and respect for your writing over the years.

You've just trashed your reputation...
Nige321 is offline  
Old 4th Oct 2017, 09:18
  #74 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: The back of beyond
Posts: 2,131
Received 173 Likes on 89 Posts
Sorry to hear that Nige. Before I post next time, I'll be sure to check that my views tally with yours and others to avoid any unpleasantness.
melmothtw is offline  
Old 4th Oct 2017, 13:49
  #75 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 2 Posts
I'm certain there was no reduction in standards for William and Harry when they went through military selection and training. However, there was one particular thing where they did indeed receive 'special' treatment.

Prior to them attending the DHFS helicopter course, the course did not comply with CAA/JAA requirements for PPL(h). Quite a lot of work was done to ensure the course became compliant so that William and Harry could get their PPL(h) without any further training. Things like a qualifying solo cross country navex, vortex ring recovery training in the simulator, revisions to the ground briefings to include LTE and an air law exam were included. This work would not have been done, had PPL(h)s not been a secondary target for the Royal brothers.

Prior to their attendance, the UK military had pretty much actively discouraged their pilots from getting licenses and certainly had not moved the course goalposts to fit. Indeed, several years after they left, with the onset of EASA regulations, guess what? The course is no longer compliant and the military have no interest in making licenses a priority for our serving lads and lasses (at least that was the case 12 months ago, and I've no reason to suspect that it's changed).

Don't get me wrong, I'm not having a pop at the Royals here. I just dislike the sycophantic way individuals within the military hierarchy moved heaven and earth to accommodate the Royals, when they wouldn't move an inch to accommodate, or reward, the career aviator/soldier.
jellycopter is offline  
Old 4th Oct 2017, 14:35
  #76 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: EGDC
Posts: 10,321
Received 622 Likes on 270 Posts
With you on that one jelly - we have been badly let down by our senior staff regarding training equivalence - all because they are paranoid about people leaving once they get a licence.

How well has that worked then?
crab@SAAvn.co.uk is offline  
Old 4th Oct 2017, 15:06
  #77 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 5,222
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Military flying just isn't that difficult, and anyone can do it.
You have trashed your argument.
Fareastdriver is offline  
Old 4th Oct 2017, 15:14
  #78 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: North Up
Posts: 489
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Military flying just isn't that difficult, and anyone can do it.
Buggah! Buggah!!
Cazalet33 is offline  
Old 4th Oct 2017, 16:31
  #79 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: The back of beyond
Posts: 2,131
Received 173 Likes on 89 Posts
Originally Posted by jellycopter
I'm certain there was no reduction in standards for William and Harry when they went through military selection and training. However, there was one particular thing where they did indeed receive 'special' treatment.

Prior to them attending the DHFS helicopter course, the course did not comply with CAA/JAA requirements for PPL(h). Quite a lot of work was done to ensure the course became compliant so that William and Harry could get their PPL(h) without any further training. Things like a qualifying solo cross country navex, vortex ring recovery training in the simulator, revisions to the ground briefings to include LTE and an air law exam were included. This work would not have been done, had PPL(h)s not been a secondary target for the Royal brothers.

Prior to their attendance, the UK military had pretty much actively discouraged their pilots from getting licenses and certainly had not moved the course goalposts to fit. Indeed, several years after they left, with the onset of EASA regulations, guess what? The course is no longer compliant and the military have no interest in making licenses a priority for our serving lads and lasses (at least that was the case 12 months ago, and I've no reason to suspect that it's changed).

Don't get me wrong, I'm not having a pop at the Royals here. I just dislike the sycophantic way individuals within the military hierarchy moved heaven and earth to accommodate the Royals, when they wouldn't move an inch to accommodate, or reward, the career aviator/soldier.
The establishment bending over backwards for the royals was precisely my point. Here is an example. Some may believe this is where it began and ended. I suspect not.

Separately, that was never my argument fareastdriver. Go back and read the post again if you care to. Or don't.

It is because I don't believe military flying to be easy and because I don't believe that every Windsor is a natural born aviatior that I suggest that one or all of them had a leg up to get on the ladder, so to speak.
melmothtw is offline  
Old 4th Oct 2017, 17:10
  #80 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: EGDC
Posts: 10,321
Received 622 Likes on 270 Posts
It is because I don't believe military flying to be easy and because I don't believe that every Windsor is a natural born aviatior that I suggest that one or all of them had a leg up to get on the ladder, so to speak.
so by that logic, how do you explain that they both served on front-line squadrons where they were not protected or nannied and fulfilled all the same duties as their compatriots?

Could it just be that they were good enough to cope with the demands of military flying and that their lineage mattered not a jot?

William did the same number of SAR shifts as the other pilots (as well as his royal duties) and captained the aircraft with a variety of experienced and inexperienced co pilots and crews - when on duty he could be called out day or night regardless of the weather, at one of the busiest and most demanding SAR flights - how on earth does your presumed leg up give him any advantage there?
crab@SAAvn.co.uk is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.