A little bit of good news

tanneman · Post by **tanneman** » Thu Aug 21, 2014 11:02 pm

I have been of line for a while due to moving house and getting things all set up as the missus likes it to be. It is a never ending job. So to take my mind off things Rudy and me went for a ride today to finish at Oakley Motorcycle club. I have been informed that the OBF made it into the local newspaper. I'm proud to say that I was part of the organisation of the event doing the field planning and layout.

Anyway here is the link to the article in the local newspaper
http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/firs ... -1-6234488

Best bit is that next year Prince William is going to fly for the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

ned1 · Post by **ned1** » Fri Aug 22, 2014 12:01 am

I was there and very good it was too.

Ned

John Coles · Post by **John Coles** » Fri Aug 22, 2014 1:00 pm

Perhaps slightly off topic but it was brought up in a way. Anyone any idea if Prince William, or Harry for that matter, have sufficient qualifications in the 'correct' subjects to become a pilot if he were a mere commoner?

JoeyDeacon · Post by **JoeyDeacon** » Fri Aug 22, 2014 2:14 pm

John Coles wrote:Perhaps slightly off topic but it was brought up in a way. Anyone any idea if Prince William, or Harry for that matter, have sufficient qualifications in the 'correct' subjects to become a pilot if he were a mere commoner?

The qualification criteria for military pilots is different than that in civvy street. For example, a soldier (not an Officer) with a minimum rank of LCpl and no qualifications can apply for flying training. As an Officer, if you have the right qualifications to get into Sandhurst, you have the right qualifications to apply for flying training, irrespective of your background. The question makes no sense although the hidden message/agenda isn't quite so hidden.

tanneman · Post by **tanneman** » Sat Aug 23, 2014 6:25 pm

Prince William is starting his public transport training this Sept before taking up the job flying with the EAAA next year.

JoeyDeacon · Post by **JoeyDeacon** » Sat Aug 23, 2014 6:45 pm

As do many military pilots, what William is doing is nothing unusual. For example, over half of the pilots at Kent Air Ambulance are ex-military aviators. He's not setting any precedent.

The implication is clear, he's Prince William (and Harry) therefore he's being allowed some sort of waiver in order to fly helicopters. I've only been on this site a couple of weeks so I'll avoid going postal but the insinuation is just, well, unjustified. And that's me being really polite.

Al · Post by Al » Sat Aug 23, 2014 7:47 pm

Both the Princes are are qualified to fly military helicopters, Search and rescue flying that William carried out is some of the most demanding, and I am sure flying Apache gunships in Afghan was no easy task for Harry so I am sure neither need a "waiver" to fly any other sort of helicopter, just a type rating the same as any other pilot and I am sure a lot of Welsh Guards were pleased to see their Uncle rescue them in the Falklands after being bombed.

Harry Lime · Post by **Harry Lime** » Sat Aug 23, 2014 10:18 pm

Deleted.

boxerscott · Post by **boxerscott** » Sat Aug 23, 2014 10:53 pm

John Coles wrote:Perhaps slightly off topic but it was brought up in a way. Anyone any idea if Prince William, or Harry for that matter, have sufficient qualifications in the 'correct' subjects to become a pilot if he were a mere commoner?

They ain`t commoners and who`s to say that commoners make better or worse pilots than the better bred royals?

Just saying like.

John Coles · Post by **John Coles** » Mon Aug 25, 2014 8:52 am

Guys sorry if I upset anyone with my question Re Wills or Harry and ther e was no hidden agenda whatsoever. It was a honest question and I did not realise the different routes civi & mili took wrt flying. I was contemplating a flying career at a young age and was doing the maths/physics route but after initial testing was told I would not get through a medical for eyesight reasons thus a career in avionics and them real time computing systems. Again no offence.

JoeyDeacon · Post by **JoeyDeacon** » Mon Aug 25, 2014 12:26 pm

No worries, I moderate on another site where we occasionally get goons coming on there and having a proper pop at the princes about how they fly helicopters 'only because they're royal' and other such drivel. It annoys me for lots of reasons but principally because of the idea that the MOD would just hand over a £35m Apache to someone just because he's royal. Yeah, right. Course they would.