Prince William recently piloted an Apache helicopter during an outing at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop, Hampshire. This event occurred as William was appointed the Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps, welcoming him at his younger brother Prince Harry's former unit, the 662 Squadron. The Prince of Wales, an experienced RAF pilot and former air ambulance flyer, was assessed by experts who noted his capable handling of the complex aircraft, although with less flair compared to Prince Harry's demonstrated during his deployment in Afghanistan.
Prince Harry, who served as an Apache commander during his 2013 operational tour in Afghanistan, was known for his confident and striking approach in the cockpit, earning him descriptions of having "Top Gun swagger" by body language experts. During his time in service, he was awarded best co-pilot gunner and actively engaged in combat, which he later described in his memoir without pride or shame, likening the elimination of Taliban fighters to removing chess pieces from the board.
Both brothers have shown distinct styles and levels of enthusiasm towards flying, reflecting their different military roles and personal inclinations towards the tasks. Prince William’s flying focused on non-combat missions like search and rescue and medical emergencies, developing a calm and reassuring approach, while Prince Harry embraced the more combative elements of military aviation.