The Princess of Wales took the controls of a fighter jet simulator and performed a loop-the-loop during her first visit to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire since becoming Royal Honorary Air Commodore in August 2023.
Kate climbed narrow stairs in navy stilettos to peer inside the cockpit of a fully armed RAF Typhoon, reassuring her guide that her heels would not stop her. She also revealed that her youngest son, Prince Louis, is keen to become a fighter pilot, but added: 'I’m going to tell them (her children) it takes eight years and a lot of hard work.'
The visit began with a private briefing from Group Captain Paul O’Grady and Warrant Officer Nikki Nolan, where she learned about the base's involvement in Operation Shader in the Middle East and Operation Eastern Sentry, which boosts NATO presence along its Eastern flank amid tensions with Russia.
In the Quick Reaction Alert hangar, she viewed a Typhoon with Wing Commander Luke 'Wilko' Wilkinson, who pointed out military hardware including missiles. She then met engineers and pilots, and later entered the Typhoon Future Synthetic Training Facility, where instructor Geraint White invited her to try the simulator. 'Yes, I’d love to,' she replied, and performed a loop-the-loop during the virtual flight.
Group Captain O’Grady said: 'She seems to be a natural pilot so we might have to get her qualified and get her flying a Typhoon, if she’s up for it.' Kate also chatted to trainee pilots from RAF Valley, where Prince William was stationed, and met families and welfare personnel in 'The Lounge'. She was presented with three toy Typhoons and key rings for her children, saying: 'They will be very upset that I’ve seen a Typhoon without them!'
