Prince William gets his search-and-rescue wings

[September 17, 2010]  LONDON (AP) -- After seven months of training, Prince William is going to graduate as a fully qualified search-and-rescue helicopter pilot.

His London office said William, who is second in line to the throne, is receiving a certificate and his Royal Air Force squadron badge in a small ceremony Friday.

Known in the air force as Flight Lt. William Wales, he will fly Sea King helicopters with the search-and-rescue unit at RAF Valley, located 220 miles (350 kilometers) west of London on the Irish Sea.

William, 28, said the course was challenging, but he "enjoyed it immensely."

"I absolutely love flying, so it will be an honor to serve operationally with the search-and-rescue force," he said.

William's younger brother, Harry, is training to fly Apache attack helicopters.

[Associated Press]

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