Prince William current events 20: January-May 2008

[andrew]

Originally Posted by ghost_night554

^Yah he's been losing his hair I think since his early 20's right? (I can't member what age it started at if nayone knows feel free to post it) I think he's the youngest royal to lose his hair from that age right?

It seems to run in the family, look at Prince Charles, Philip, Andrew(Philip's father). Unfortunately at William it started at an early age.
Prince Harry seems to be more lucky, he resembles his mother's family!

[CasiraghiTrio]

THE TELEGRAPH ~ Prince William's first steps as a royal high flier
Tuesday, 8 January 2008

By Richard Alleyne

Prince William swapped the turret of a tank for the cockpit of an aeroplane as he began an intensive course on learning to fly in the Royal Air Force.
Said to be the fulfilment of a long-held ambition for the prince, the four-month stint will also provide a taste of life as a "top gun" in the RAF in preparation for his future role as head of the Armed Forces.
The prince, who is following in the footsteps of his father, a qualified pilot, will begin training in a propeller-powered Grob Tutor. But, by the end of his training, he could take control of a Eurofighter Typhoon, Britain's most advanced jet.
In between he will fly transporters, Harrier jump jets, Tornado bombers and helicopters on the course, which is specially designed for him and even has its own codename - Operation Golden Kestrel.

THE PRINCE OF WALES ~ Prince William begins four month attachment with the RAF
Monday, 7 January 2008

.... The prince, an officer with the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals, will begin his flying training later today when he joins a class of around 11 students at RAF Cranwell.
He is a Second Lieutenant and a trained troop commander in charge of armoured Scimitar vehicles but during his placement will be known as Flying Officer William Wales, equivalent to his Army rank, and wear an RAF uniform....

New ABACA Press Pictures (18)
See on Image 9, the close up of his name tag: "1 SON No1 EFTS, William Wales"

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by CasiraghiTrio

the close up of his name tag: "1 SON No1 EFTS, William Wales"
What does it all mean? It's interesting that the Telegraph claims that he will actually be attached to the RAF, but the official source, Clarence House, states that this is only a "placement" and he is just being known by the rank of Flying Officer, the equivalent of his army rank, as if he is on a secondment to the RAF.

The tag means - One Squadron - Number One Elementary Flight Training School. We Brits like to confuse, secondment, attachment, placement are all the same thing to the forces. He certainly seems to be enjoying himself and I don't think Cranwell has had so many personel needing to pop in, from various bases, for years. Especially WRAF's for some reason.

Originally Posted by Kevin_of_Sussex

Second, on a more technical note (and was corrected by a pilot) that the flying machine is an aircraft, not airplane.

Speaking as Mama to 2 members of the RAF, (soon to be three, we think), none of them seem to worry too much whether it is called an airplane or aircraft. Their only concern is that whatever it is called it stays up when it is supposed to!

[Kevin_of_Sussex]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

Speaking as Mama to 2 members of the RAF, (soon to be three, we think), none of them seem to worry too much whether it is called a airplane or aircraft. There only concern is that whatever it is called it stays up when it is supposed to!

Yes, I agree, that the aircraft stays up, is most important!

I wish Prince William well on his course, and hope he will pass the course, it sounds very demanding.

[CasiraghiTrio]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

The tag means - One Squadron - Number One Elementary Flight Training School. We Brits like to confuse, secondment, attachment, placement are all the same thing to the forces. He certainly seems to be enjoying himself and I don't think Cranwell has had so many personel needing to pop in, from various bases, for years. Especially WRAF's for some reason.

The women officers want to see him in his flight suit. Well, even I, not being one who finds him extraordinarily good looking, have to admit that he does look good in it.

[zembla]

Originally Posted by ghost_night554

^Yah he's been losing his hair I think since his early 20's right? (I can't member what age it started at if nayone knows feel free to post it) I think he's the youngest royal to lose his hair from that age right?

Yeah it happened too early for him...that has to be depressing...

[royalone3]

He should use Rogaine to help keep what he has, and then cut his hair short.

[BeatrixFan]

He could have a hair transplant. I'd offer him mine as it's so thick and fabulous but red hair has caused more than enough trouble for the Windsors already.

[karla64]

new pics...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...Air090108a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...Air090108b.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...Air090108c.jpg


Fotobanka isifa image service

[LadyGabrielle]

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

He could have a hair transplant. I'd offer him mine as it's so thick and fabulous but red hair has caused more than enough trouble for the Windsors already.

Heavens no! Your hair is wonderful but we dont need the paparazzi going off on a tangent saying you could be P. Harrys' father. As for Prince Wills, he could do what my dad used to do. He said it was an old family secret, he would use make up and comb his hair a certain way and it looked natural, so he thought.

[zembla]

Good for him...flying a plane seems so exciting...

[Royal Fan]

Ive Heard hes been promoted in the Army is this true and does it have anything to do with his RAF Stint?

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Royal Fan

Ive Heard hes been promoted in the Army is this true and does it have anything to do with his RAF Stint?

No, he remains a 2nd Lt in the army.

[CasiraghiTrio]

I have a cross-rank question for our resident Army Guru, Skydragon.

Clarence House release said that William takes the RAF equivalent of his Army rank. So is that why is already Flying Officer before actually gaining his wings?
If he had enrolled in the RAF flying course without having his army rank, he would be something else, right? But since he is already a ranked officer in another service, he takes the same rank in RAF? Right?

What brought me to wonder about this was a comment to one of the Daily Mail articles. Some guy had complained that the DM was calling him Flying Officer. But in fact, the DM was just calling him what the official release had called him. Clarence House has actually said he is known now as "Flying Officer Wales".

[Skydragon]

Unlike the army, being a graduate has it's rewards.

Graduates, once they have completed Officer training serve as a Pilot Officer for 2 - 4 weeks and then become (almost without exception) Flying Officers.

Non graduates, once they have completed their Officer training, without exception, become Pilot Officers, which is where they will stay for a couple of years, unless they show exceptional progress.

As William is a graduate, he has already received his commission (completed his Officer training) and served as a junior officer for the minimum of 2 weeks, he automatically becomes a Flying Officer.

[CasiraghiTrio]

^ Ok, yes, I thought so his commission gives him the advantage. It's the same way in the US. Once you are commissioned officer, it crosses over to all the services if you cross over. BTW, about the military police escort, it's exactly the same way on all US bases, as you describe with RAF Cranwell. When I said "police" escort I meant the military police, on base, not the civilian police.

[kpusa1981]

Does anyone think will stay in the service long enough to be a Lt.?

[HRH Kimetha]

Originally Posted by kpusa1981

Does anyone think will stay in the service long enough to be a Lt.?

Or maybe a Captain. That was my favorite rank. If not a Captain, then a full bird.

[Royal Fan]

He will get regular Promotions wont he??

[Kevin_of_Sussex]

^

We hear that Prince William will be doing a "tour" of the Royal Navy in a few months time. After that tour, I don't know what he is planning to do.

Normally officers are promoted after several years service at the current rank.