Did Prince William deserve his wings?

Question

Training an RAF pilot can take up to 4 years.....he got his wings in just under 4 months!!!

Answer 1

Well, since he'll never see ACTUAL BATTLE, who cares?  He's a figurehead, a person that actually accomplishes something and he is the de-facto head of a future government.  HELLO?  His role will be titular only, since he won't "actually" make laws or rule.  So, who cares if he was fast-tracked? since he's not going to have other people's lives at risk by not being a great pilot?  He's graduated college and managed to avoid scandal...let him be.

Answer 2

As future King he will have to command the respect of his followers so I doubt they're going to pins medals on him he doesn't deserve..

Answer 3

I can't understand how he achieved his wings in such a short time in comparison to other recruits. There is an awful lot to know about flying before you even get into the cockpit. You have to understand compass readings, radar positions and when you are being targeted by the enemy. You have to understand about 'G' forces and the effects regarding tunnel vision when the 'G' forces are active.

I think it was just a matter of fast achievement because of his national status but as he will never go into a proper war zone maybe what he has learned will never be applied in real terms.

Answer 4

well he is the forth-coming prince to the throne of England, they all get privilages some deserved some not, but we are commoners to speak ill its treason,

head bowed i slowly trudge to the tower, sobbing, i lose my head tomorrow.

Answer 5

Prince William received his badge after spending four months with the Royal Air Force learning to pilot helicopters and planes. His study was designed to make him a competent, but not operational, flier. British fighter jet pilots normally spend up to four years under instruction. The course is part of the 25-year-old William's preparations to eventually become king, when he will become the ceremonial head of Britain's armed forces. He is already an army officer and is due to serve a tour overseas, most likely aboard a navy warship.

Note: Prince William is following in the footsteps of his father, Prince Charles, who passed his training in 1971, his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh, who earned his wings in 1953, and his great-grandfather Prince Albert, later King George VI, who became the first royal to serve in the RAF, between 1918 and 1919.

Answer 6

Isn't he wonderful I am in awe at how marvellous our Royal  family are.They are all supermen unlike all the working class people  who always seem to get themselves killed whenever we have a war.

I say stop sending working class troops into battle anymore and just send the royal family and every other upper class t**t who went straight into officer training school.

I believe if we did that the government would not be so keen to embark on starting wars .And we would have a much more peaceful world.

Why is it always the poor people who suffer . My heart goes out to all the British families who have lost loved ones in this disgraceful Iraq  occupation.

Answer 7

My Brother got his Wings at Cranwell some years ago and I know he worked his socks off for years to get therm  He went in as an Officer but others had to work even harder to get their Wings.  To get these under 4 months is a mockery.

Answer 8

Did you read the article? The pilots who undergo 4 years training will be operational. William did enough to make him a "competent" pilot. He CAN'T be operational as he is second in line to the throne. The real objective was to learn the ethos, traditions, etc of the RAF. And yes, he DID deserve his wings. As one of his classmates pointed out, they flew once per day. William was up THREE times per day and still undertaking all other assignments that everyone else was doing.

Answer 9

Yes, I congratulate him for passing for them.

Answer 10

why not,he passed his test so to speak on fixed wing aircraft and helicopters and 4 months is normal for anyone,this is not fighter aircraft we are talking about just a normal flying school

Answer 11

I don't know, but I do know Prince Albert got 'the can' years ago.

oooo bad joke.

Answer 12

I think that the British Military did the right thing.  They gave him enough training to really know what it is about and didn't waste too much money on further training someone who will never have to use that skill.

In the U.S. for instance, we send people like lawyers and members of a military band to Jump School and Ranger Training!   What a terrible waste of money for something that isn't necessary! (Before the idiots comment, I served for over 9 1/2 years and held the Military Occupation Specialties of 11B, 96B and 55G).

Answer 13

He is a hottie <3

Answer 14

if you had read the article properly you would have seen this bit and that should answer your question

the prince, destined one day to be commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Answer 15

<sigh> It means he's passed the first stage. He wasn't fast tracked into full RAF qulaification, that would be irresponsible and not in his best interests when he gets into a plane.

I do wish people would do a little more in depth research before they start dispensing rhetoric.

He underwent the course as part of an attachment from the Army - and yes, he did follow the normal Sandhurst course for that as well. Though he followed a short course, he is not considered a fully qualified RAF pilot.

EDIT - yes, to become competant. And I said 'he was not fast-tracked into full RAF qualification' (which does take 4 years). As the report states, it was an attachment from the army, meaning that he does not follow the full course, but one that allows him to earn competancy in flight. He isn't pursuing a career in the RAF, he is pursuing one in the Army.

Answer 16

He can fly, he's earned his wings; he can get from Buckingham to Sandrington on his own.

He's not qualified to fly fire missions over Afghanistan.

He didn't ask to be King and as deals go thus far he hasn't had a good hand. Let him get on with it.