Prince William to begin Air Force flight lessons

Prince William to begin
Air Force flight lessons

LONDON — Prince William will begin taking flying lessons this week at the start of a four-month assignment with the Royal Air Force, the military announced Friday. The prince will begin his course Monday with around 10 other students at the RAF Cranwell base in eastern England, the air force said. He will be known as Flying Officer William Wales, and will train on helicopters as well as fixed-wing aircraft. “During his time with us, Flying Officer Wales will be realizing a personal ambition to learn how to fly and this will be the beginning of a lifelong relationship with the Royal Air Force,” said Group Captain Nick Seward, commander of the air force flying school. “If successful, he will be awarded his RAF wings, and in anticipation of this a graduation ceremony is planned for April,” Seward added. William, 25, is following in the footsteps of his father, Prince Charles, in serving with all three branches of the armed forces. The British monarch is symbolic head of the forces, and William is second in line to the throne, behind his father. Prince William graduated from Sandhurst military academy in December 2006 and has spent the last year as a second lieutenant in the army’s Blues and Royals cavalry regiment. His younger brother, Harry, 23, is also an officer in the Blues and Royals.

Today’s birthdays

Pollster Louis Harris is 87. Bluegrass performer Earl Scruggs is 84. Actress Bonnie Franklin is 64. Rock musician Malcolm Young (AC/DC) is 55. Actor-comedian Rowan Atkinson is 53. Golfer Nancy Lopez is 51. Director John Singleton is 40. TV personality Julie Chen (CBS’ “The Early Show”) is 38. Actor Danny Pintauro (“Who’s the Boss?”) is 32.