London: Britain's Prince William started a four-month pilot course with the Royal Air Force (RAF) today, the latest phase of training to prepare for his future role as symbolic head of the armed forces.

The 25-year-old, who is second in line to the throne, is temporarily leaving his army role for the attachment, which sees him following in the footsteps of his father Prince Charles who did likewise in 1971.

He was initially to take to the skies with an instructor to earn his wings at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire, eastern England, in a shortened version of a course which would normally take three or four years.

William has served a year as a second lieutenant in the Blues and Royals regiment of the Household Cavalry, after graduating from the elite Sandhurst academy. He is a troop commander in charge of armoured Scimitar vehicles.
While in the RAF, he will be known as Flying Officer William Wales  equivalent to his army rank  and wear an RAF uniform.

"During his time with us, Flying Officer Wales will be realising a personal ambition to learn how to fly and this will be the beginning of a lifelong relationship with the Royal Air Force," said Central Flying School chief Nick Seward.

"We are very keen to make sure that Flying Officer Wales will have the opportunity to meet airmen of all ranks to enable him to have as broad as possible idea of the RAF and how it differs from what he has seen in the army."
Seward added: "If successful, he will be awarded his RAF wings, and in anticipation of this, a graduation ceremony is planned for April."

Source : PTI