AR1 - I for one think that what Edward did was actually took a lot of balls. He tried the course, couldn't hack it (like many before him and many to come).

He knew it would be splashed across the press, yet he still left - no room left for people to thin he was given a bastardised course just to get him through.

His decision to be honest gained my respect

Sooo, do you think everybody at AIR is now panicking about how they "spin" his (inevitable) Typhoon Jolly & photoshoot?

Surely any Typhoon hours should be better spent in Iraq, err, Afg..errrrr..ummm..doing a display practise......?

I'm confused. Have things changed that much since my time in the RAF, that anything which suggests fun, enjoyment or a "perk" (heaven forbid) is met with such fierce condemnation by fellow Servicemen.
I cannot think of any flight by any military aircraft which does not have a valid training or currency issue attached to it. If the flight can be combined/enanced with something else which is useful (or fun) and does not detract from the authorisers brief, can one of you miserable doubters tell me what is wrong with said flight?
Yes, the muppets posing as a PR machine need a kick up the backside and they play right in to the hands of an incompetant Government, and the "SUN" et al will delight in the gossip, but serving or retired personel should know better.
:{ I weep for you!

Dead Right ROG. I can remember at least a dozen week-end land away navigation exercises in the early 60s just to get my end away.

You could sell that story to the Spun

Of course he hasn't had to do the time, or put up with the same amount of s**t that us mere mortals have to get a PFB - same way his dad hasn't exactly had a traditional career progression to Air Chief Marshal!!
What did you all expect?
In the same vein I suspect that the normal rules don't apply when it comes to whizzing down to the IoW for a party. Hence the usual tide of misreporting, ill informed speculation and indignation (righteous and what ever other sorts there are) Who really gives a monkeys?

For all you ill-informed journos and bleaters out there, this is how it works:

A Sqn is allocated a certain number of trg hours per month / year / etc. Those hours are already accounted for within budgets.

ALL sorties have to be authorised in writing, stating the legitimate reason for the flight taking place. You cannot just 'take' an aircraft on a jolly, and there is no 'fig leaf' covering possible. You cannot LEGALLY fly without a proper and correct authorisation.

This sortie would have gone ahead in any case, whether HRH was on it or not. It may have used different destinations for its training purposes, it may have gone to the same places, who knows - that is entirely down to what the crew needed to achieve from THEIR trg hours.

Therefore the supposed cost to the taxpayer of this 'jaunt' is ZERO, as it ALWAYS IS with things of this nature. If it incurred costs outside of what had already been paid for (ie the trg hours) we would not be able to do it!

Just what is it about this that you don't get?

BTW, Jacko, I'm truly surprised at you. You're normally much more clued up about how we go about our business!

anotherthing
 

Correct me if I am confused but when Edward came out of the RM I understood he was well up to speed with the Commando side of things, actually doing the hard stuff etc. but the reason he came out was that he had no 'killer instinct' - possibly a 'Royal' or two out there who will remember?

Regarding the Brevet element - Im with you J !

As for the flight, who really cares.

DogGone:D

Thanks for the clarification, Inquisitor. So the only thing to change since my day (a long time ago) is that you are now struggling to get enough hours and we invariably had to justify our failure to achieve the monthly hour total set by Command.
Funny old world isn't it?

Be interesting to know how the 'Screws' gets hold of these non-stories . 'Military source' covers a fairly wide spectrum though it's more likely this .

Paul Burrell?

Yet another non-story that is hyped up by retarded journalists!

A student helicopter pilot needs to practice approaches and landings in a field. Using his intelligence he decides to select a field only 16 miles from base that he can easily get permission to use whilst 'showing off' at the same time - nothing wrong with that. How many other student pilots have selected their training routes to fly over their own, their girlfriends or their parents houses to 'show off'? It was a part of his training, not a special flight put on purely for that purpose!

Some expert opinion there then :rolleyes: I would have thought that this flight would be like any other student pilot training sortie with the stude in one seat and the instructor in the other :eek: Nothing like a learner driver in a single seat F1 car you knob!

MadMark!!! :mad:

It was always going to be thus. Just wait for when he's doing his bit with the Navy.

Naval analyst and Royal Navy trained journalist Jo Soap says "It was ridiculous and inappropriate, an absolute waste of sailing hours, for an Aircraft Carrier to put into port just so that Prince William could have a party with his friends, and at a time when our brave lads are so short of aircraft carriers in Afghanistan".

I pay my taxes... use your kit when and how you like!!
 

This old-stager is still smiling after almost 20 years.... memories of Valley Hawk taxying up to CAAFU office at Leeds-Bradford. RAF jock climbs out and shortly after leaves in piston-twin on civvie initial IR test with CAAFU examiner. Returns an hour later (with all-sections pass of course!) and departs in Hawk for Valley. (Bet he was jealous as hell not to have shared my trip home on the M6!). Good luck to him. Oh happy days! bm:D

Where will he go on his C17 Command Course - Bermuda or Honolulu?

I live not all that far from the Middletons

We are used to Chinny's & Merlins routing and training over our heads on pretty much a daily (and often nightly) basis here in West Berks!

Many of them pop into fields where the landowners have given permission, part of everyday life around here.

Year before last a Merlin made a pre-planned landing on the playing field at the kids school (yes, in Bucklebury) - they all loved it, good confined HLS training I suspect and great PR - or was that wrong too!

Total non-story := Hang your head in shame Mr Lake