The Princess of Wales took control of a Typhoon flight simulator during her first visit to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, performing a loop-the-loop with ease. Kate, 43, who became Royal Honorary Air Commodore in August 2023, also climbed into the cockpit of a fully armed Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Typhoon, wearing a grey trouser suit and navy stilettos.
During the visit, she shared that her youngest son, Prince Louis, dreams of becoming a fighter pilot. 'I'm going to tell them it takes eight years and a lot of hard work,' she said, referring to her children. The Princess was presented with three toy Typhoons and key rings for her children, commenting, 'They will be very upset that I've seen a Typhoon without them!'
Kate began her day with a private briefing from Group Captain Paul O’Grady, Station Commander, and Warrant Officer Nikki Nolan. She then toured the QRA hangar with Wing Commander Luke 'Wilko' Wilkinson, Acting Commander Air, who explained the aircraft's hardware, including missiles under the wings. She later met QRA pilots, engineers, and other personnel.
At the Typhoon Future Synthetic Training Facility, instructor Geraint White invited her to try the simulator. 'Yes, I'd love to,' she replied. Despite having only used a helicopter simulator before, she handled the flight smoothly and performed an aerobatic manoeuvre. Group Captain O’Grady remarked, 'She seems to be a natural pilot.'
The Princess also spoke with trainee pilots from RAF Valley, where Prince William was stationed from 2010 to 2013. In 'The Lounge,' she discussed mental health support and recreational activities, noting a walking trip to Mont Blanc: 'I have done that with my father.' She joked it was 'character building.'
