MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Duke of Cambridge Falklands’ experience earns him his SAR captain wings
Prince William next to Sea King at MPA After sharpening his flying skills in the disputed Falkland Islands, the Duke of Cambridge has qualified as a helicopter search and rescue captain.
It comes two weeks before Flt Lt Wales’ 30th birthday and means he can now command missions using Sea Kings. He passed two days of tests after boosting his air hours in the Falkland Islands in February and March.
Argentina branded his presence there an act of ‘provocation’, particularly since it was the year of the 30th anniversary of the South Atlantic conflict when the Argentine invasion and attempt to keep the occupied Islands by force.
The Duke also had to complete mock airborne searches for a yacht, missing kayakers and put out a simulated fire on a large vessel.
His commanding officer at RAF Valley in Anglesey, north Wales, Wg Cdr Mark Dunlop, said he is responsible ‘for the safety of the aircraft, its crew and any casualties.’
His brother, Prince Harry, is flying Apache helicopter gunship in Britain and is keen to return to Afghanistan after his first tour was cut short in 2008.
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Read all commentsEvil rescue helicopter pilot ,protecting mariners of all nations,in all weather,but according to Argentina ”Militerising the South Atlantic. (do they realise how ridiculous they are?)
Jun 07th, 2012 - 09:43 pm 0Well done William ,you are a gentleman with a noble career.
Maybe they thought we were going to launch him at them like some kind of missile...no wait, didn't they launch their “give peace a chance love missiles” at us?
Jun 07th, 2012 - 10:01 pm 0The provocation is completely from Argentina in this 30th year.
Jun 07th, 2012 - 10:44 pm 0Maybe in future, would be great if Duke of Cambridge could do another tour of Falkland Islands?
Here in Canada, we're happy that when he was in Prince Edward Island last July, the Duke was able to get in a short bit of helicopter practice doing “waterbirding”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gudeFyssi6g
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