Why no royals in fast jets?
Thread Starter
Why no royals in fast jets?
All this royal baby stuff on t'telly and a discussion with young Tartare about how William flies a yellow helicopter got me wondering.
Suspect I know the answer... but Charles and Andy ultimately both flew helicopters, as do Wills, and sometimes Harry.
Is there a deliberate preference in the services to eventually deploy their RHs to rotary wing?
Why have we not seen a Royal flying fast jets for a job - public perception that it might be too dangerous/expensive?
I assume when it comes to flying ability, they're treated just like any other chap?
Suspect I know the answer... but Charles and Andy ultimately both flew helicopters, as do Wills, and sometimes Harry.
Is there a deliberate preference in the services to eventually deploy their RHs to rotary wing?
Why have we not seen a Royal flying fast jets for a job - public perception that it might be too dangerous/expensive?
I assume when it comes to flying ability, they're treated just like any other chap?
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Asia
Age: 36
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Why no royals in fast jets?
could it be that Putting them in rotary wings would satisfy both camps of it "being relatively safer than fast jet" but at the same time allow them to go on ops?
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Australia - South of where I'd like to be !
Age: 59
Posts: 4,261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Charles and William seem to be held back from being allowed
to fight on the front line so that would rule them out.
Harry was never going to be a flyer until he needed an avenue
to get back to the war.
Andrew - he joined the Navy and was streamed Rotary ?
When was the last time the Royal Family had 3 Combat veterans still alive,
which would have been 4 if Mountbatten was still alive ?
to fight on the front line so that would rule them out.
Harry was never going to be a flyer until he needed an avenue
to get back to the war.
Andrew - he joined the Navy and was streamed Rotary ?
When was the last time the Royal Family had 3 Combat veterans still alive,
which would have been 4 if Mountbatten was still alive ?
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1,797
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Andrew was 'not selected' FJ. .......but could have been, however unlike the RAF who had a selection of aircraft upon which to build up experience in a less demanding role, selection for Andrew would have meant Sea Harrier, and he wasn't good enough.
......and besides which (and having spoken to him about it) there is not an aviators bone in his body. Quote: "I do not miss flying a single iota", which no true aviator would ever he heard saying.
......and besides which (and having spoken to him about it) there is not an aviators bone in his body. Quote: "I do not miss flying a single iota", which no true aviator would ever he heard saying.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Behind the wire.
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is also the cost factor and length of training. One tour isn't great value for money for all that training. I'm sure someone can provide the exact figures but I bet it's over double for FJ.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: England
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You can't carry any Close Protection personnel in a jet. Granted you can't in an Apache either but the operational range is not quite the same.
Last edited by Door Slider; 25th Jul 2013 at 07:57.
Thread Starter
Web says Charles flew the Provost in training...
Sorry - am civilian driver of bugsmasher - what does FP personnel mean?
Sorry - am civilian driver of bugsmasher - what does FP personnel mean?
Last edited by tartare; 25th Jul 2013 at 06:57.
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Age: 54
Posts: 1,511
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
When you consider that we're talking about essentially, four people here it seems that the odds of any of them getting through to fast jets are pretty slim.
Posted from Pprune.org App for Android
Posted from Pprune.org App for Android
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Age: 54
Posts: 1,511
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
When you consider that we're talking about essentially, four people here it seems that the odds of any of them getting through to fast jets are pretty slim.
Posted from Pprune.org App for Android
Posted from Pprune.org App for Android
Tabs please !
Yes, given that they almost outnumber the fast jets these days. 
Red On, Green On
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Between the woods and the water
Age: 24
Posts: 6,487
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
I was a year ahead of the Duke of York in the Dark Blue flying training system.
Let's just say that while he was a very good stick monkey, the same person from a normal background might not have marched up the steps after two terms at BRNC. His chances of a FJ seat after that must have been zero.
Let's just say that while he was a very good stick monkey, the same person from a normal background might not have marched up the steps after two terms at BRNC. His chances of a FJ seat after that must have been zero.
I have been told that Prince Charles would have liked to flown the F4, but it was deemed too unsafe for the heir to the throne. The portrait of him (I believe at Cranwell) as a young pilot has an F4 on the ground in the background.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Fife
Age: 87
Posts: 519
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
? I thought Charles qualified as a Phantom pilot (or maybe Bucc....... can't remember for sure) during his time in the Navy
HRH did not fly during his RN career, but did command a minesweeper, HMS Bronington,
Following completion of his flying training in the RAF on the JP, his instructor, Dick Johns, brought him up to Leuchars to visit 43(F) Sqn as one item in "Operation Golden Eagle". He was given one trip in the back seat of Phantom FG1 piloted by Wg Cdr "Hank" Martin.
Last edited by NutherA2; 25th Jul 2013 at 08:13.
No disgrace in their achievement. I knew several guys who had been turned down for fast jets and who went on to become very competent and experienced captains of multi engined/crew aircraft. When my course graduated there were in fact no F4/Buccaneer slots available, but I very much doubt if I'd have been offered one. You have to be realistic about your own skills, and just make sure you do the best in the job you get as William and Harry have certainly done.
Gentleman Aviator
When was the last time the Royal Family had 3 Combat veterans still alive,
which would have been 4 if Mountbatten was still alive ?
which would have been 4 if Mountbatten was still alive ?
And don't forget that Edward VIII/Duke of Windsor was a WW 1 MC, and he was only 6 years older than Mountbottom.
More recently, Duke of Kent served in Cyprus and (briefly) in Norn Iron with the Royal Scots Greys - in the latter case before the good old Press grassed him up and he swiftly left - nothing new eh Harry. He wears a Cyprus medal and the next one (unclear in photos) may well be a GSM.
As to the answer to 500N's question, I would guess post war (WW2) maybe even 60s or 70s - when Lord Louis and Duke of Windsor were still with us. I'll do some more research and try and answer the question more accurately.
[Edited to answer the exam question]
The short answer is 28th May 1972, when Duke of Windsor died. The three were:
Duke of Windsor - MC 1916
Duke of Edinburgh - MiD (and Greek War Cross of Valour) - Battle of Cape Matapan 1941
Duke of Gloucester (Prince Henry, present Duke's father) - WIA as 2 i/c of 20 Armd Bde serving with BEF in France in 1940 (his staff car was strafed).
You will note I have excluded Mountbatten who was not strictly Royal Family - he was never an HRH. If we do include him we can run forward the date for "latest 3" to Prince Henry's death - 10th June 1974.
And of course until his death (8th February 1952) we can also include George VI who was MiD at the Battle of Jutland in 1916. He transferred to the RNAS and then the RAF on its formation, and was serving at Air HQ in France at the end of WW1. That would make 4 Royals to Feb '52.
And finally - Prince Michael of Kent also has a Cyprus UN medal for his service there in 1971 on armoured cars with 11th Hussars.
Last edited by teeteringhead; 25th Jul 2013 at 09:44.
When I passed out of the fast jet Vampire stream in 1962 apart from one FGA slot all the rest of us were posted to the V force. One of us, the Marquis of Douglas and Clydesdale, later to become the Duke of Hamilton, was somewhat peeved by this. His reasoning was that as he was in the teens as far as the queue for the throne was concerned he was not going to be a co-pilot and a vassal to a commoner.
Not surprisingly his posting was changed to Canberras.
Not surprisingly his posting was changed to Canberras.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: -
Posts: 508
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts