Prince William Expresses Desire to Fly Helicopters Again During Visit to Wales Air Ambulance
Prince William has shared his enthusiasm for flying helicopters once more during his visit to the Wales Air Ambulance headquarters in Llanelli, South Wales. The 42-year-old heir to the throne, who previously served as an RAF search and rescue pilot and worked with the East Anglian Air Ambulance from 2015 to 2017, expressed his eagerness to return to the cockpit.
During his visit, William revealed plans to fly with the Wales Air Ambulance from its Cardiff Bay base. He engaged in conversation with pilots and crew aboard the £8.5 million Airbus H145S helicopter, which he remains qualified to fly.
“I’d love to fly again; I could volunteer for a weekend to make a comeback,” he stated, highlighting his passion for aviation. As a patron of the Wales Air Ambulance charity, which saves hundreds of lives annually by transporting medical teams to accident scenes with their 138 mph helicopters, William discussed recent developments at the charity since his last visit in 2023.
His visit coincided with the annual National Air Ambulance Week, aimed at raising funds to support flying doctors. William completed his helicopter pilot training with the RAF Search and Rescue Force in 2010, where he flew an air ambulance for two years before taking on more royal duties on behalf of Queen Elizabeth.
Known as Flight Lieutenant Wales during his service in Anglesey, North Wales, he participated in 156 search and rescue operations, successfully rescuing 149 individuals. William has also flown his family on helicopters, including trips to the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
However, the late Queen reportedly did not like to see her grandson flying around in helicopters.
Our King by Robert Jobson claims Queen Elizabeth warned William against flying with his eldest son Prince George because of her fears of a tragic accident that would threaten the future of the monarchy.
A source previously told The Sun: ‘Her Majesty has told close friends and courtiers that she would like William to stop flying himself, particularly in bad weather, as helicopters are not the safest form of transport.’
The source added it made the Queen ‘nervous’ and kept her awake at night.
In May this year, William took to the skies in an Apache helicopter after being crowned the leader of his brother’s former Army regiment by King Charles.
Prince Harry qualified as an Apache helicopter commander in 2013, after three years of training.
If Harry and Meghan had not stepped down as working royals in 2020, the appointment as Colonel-in-Chief would likely have been his.
William has made clear his love for piloting helicopters over the years.
‘The moment I started the helicopter training, I realized that it was better than anything. It was one of those things that I just instantly took to and thought, “This is really cool,” he said in an episode of Apple Fitness+’s Time To Walk series in 2021.
This afternoon, the Prince consoled crew who attended a recent double fatal road traffic accident on Anglesey and wanted to make sure systems were in place to help pilots and crew with their mental health after attending horrific incidents.
He told them: ‘I made sure all the First Responders after Southport were getting any help they needed. It’s important you guys feel supported at the right moment.
‘I have always felt that you should get some sort of break from the attritional role of what you are seeing every day.’
Volunteer fundraiser Brian Tolley, 80, of Builth Wells, said: ‘The Prince was very relaxed but there was no mention of the good news about his wife.
‘He has gone through a terrific amount over the last few months but he did not show it. He looked very comfortable and was brilliant with everybody he met here today.’
Earlier in the day, Prince William visited a primary school in Llanelli, west Wales.
Crowds had waited patiently for hours to greet the future king after the announcement that Kate was cancer free.
After receiving an avalanche of love and support, he told Pauline Thomas, 74: ‘It’s good news but there is still a long way to go.’
Royal fan Sandra Peters, 79, said: ‘I told him, Bore da [Welsh for good morning], you have a beautiful family, I’m so pleased Kate is recovering.
‘He said ‘thank you very much’. He was lovely, he’s so charming.’ She said: ‘I just wrote I’m so happy you’re in recovery. I’m just a little old lady from Swiss Valley Park. I admire your bravery, your family is all so beautiful.’
Footage shows fans saying it was ‘so nice’ to see ‘Catherine’ which William replied ‘thank you so much’.
It came less than 24 hours after the Princess of Wales, 42, revealed in an intimate family video message that she had completed her course of chemotherapy after an ‘incredibly tough’ nine months.
She said she planned to make a gradual return to royal duties but that her focus was on remaining ‘cancer free’.
