The Princess of Wales performed a loop-the-loop manoeuvre in an RAF Typhoon jet simulator during her visit to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. Kate flew into the base by helicopter for her first visit as its Royal Honorary Air Commodore, meeting pilots on the front line of the UK's air defences.
The princess was briefed about recent RAF operations, including supporting NATO in Poland. She wore a grey checked suit over a darker grey top for the base tour.
Aircraft demonstration
Kate was shown around a fully armed Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Typhoon, which stands ready to respond to any threats to national airspace within minutes of an alert. Wing Commander Luke Wilkinson gave her a tour of the aircraft before she climbed stairs with him up to the cockpit.
QRA provides a 24-hour interception response based at RAF Coningsby and RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland. Jets from Lincolnshire can reach London in under ten minutes once they are scrambled.
Simulator experience
The princess then moved to the newly opened Typhoon Future Synthetic Training facility, where she took the simulated controls of the fast jet. She told instructor Geraint White that she had flown a helicopter simulation before but never a plane, and "flew" around the Lincolnshire countryside with the North Sea ahead.
Kate met pilots in training and asked about their time at RAF Valley in Anglesey, where she lived with the Prince of Wales during his training. She later visited the communal space called the Lounge, where she accepted a cup of tea and chatted to RAF Coningsby's Welfare Team.
Meeting families
As she prepared to leave the base, Kate was greeted by dozens of families with small children who cheered and gave her flowers and keepsakes. She spent more than half an hour talking to the families about life on the base and chatting to the children.
Kate told Jo Sweeney and her ten-year-old stepson Robin that her son Louis wanted to be a pilot. She warned Robin that it took eight years to learn to fly a Typhoon after speaking with trainee pilots.
She admired the dresses of young girls and told more than one: "I'm sorry I didn't wear my dress today." When one girl threw her arms around the princess, Kate told her: "I love hugs." Another girl showed interest in Kate's RAF brooch and watch, prompting the princess to suggest she ask Father Christmas for one.
The Welfare Team presented her with three model Typhoons for her children, with one member saying her children were "very excited" about her seeing a plane. Kate replied: "They'll be very upset that I've seen a Typhoon without them."
Station commander Group Captain Paul O'Grady said Kate "seems to be a natural pilot" and suggested they "might have to get her qualified in a Typhoon, if she's up for it."
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
