Princess of Wales helps guide Wildcat in to land at RNAS Yeovilton
The Princess of Wales helped guide a Wildcat helicopter in to land at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton as she visited the Somerset base.
Kate, who became Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm last month, was being shown around the air station – one of the busiest military airfields in the UK.
During the visit, the Princess spent time in the air traffic control tower and spoke over the radio with the crew of the Wildcat as it prepared to land.
She also heard the roar of an F-35B Lightning from RAF Marham as it "buzzed" the control tower.
Kate was then shown around a Merlin Mk4 helicopter, which is used by the Royal Marines, and a Merlin Mk2, which hunts submarines.
It was during a chat with Survival Equipment Technicians that she tried out an aircrew lifejacket and was surprised at how quickly it inflated, bursting into a fit of giggles as it suddenly filled up with air.
Personnel from 700X Naval Air Squadron, normally based at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall, showed the Princess their Banshee drone – used for developing tactics to defend the nation’s aircraft carriers against air attacks.
"She was fantastic, genuinely interested, really personable and for me it was a great opportunity and a privilege to meet her," said Lieutenant Commander Marcus Pennant, the squadron’s Commanding Officer.
Her Royal Highness spent a good bit of time chatting with 700X engineer Leading Hand Chloe Chapman who talked about life in Cornwall and learned that the Princess’s children were "very jealous that she was coming to look at the really cool planes and put the Top Gun soundtrack on for the school run, which gave me a little insight into her personal life".
The royal visit ended at the Wildcat Training Centre.
Run in partnership with Yeovil-based Leonardo Helicopters and other UK industry partners, it is where personnel learn and practise a variety of skills including aircraft engineering, flying and weapon loading.
The Princess also met a Wildcat 'Flight' - a team of personnel who deploy on ships to maintain and operate the helicopter - and witnessed weapon loading on the training Wildcat, before she took a 'flight' in a state-of-the art Wildcat helicopter simulator.
"I am delighted and privileged to have welcomed Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales to the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, at the start of what I am sure will be a long and rewarding relationship in her capacity as Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm," said Captain Duncan Thomas, RNAS Yeovilton’s Commanding Officer.
"We’ve all been hugely excited by this opportunity and I am delighted that Her Royal Highness will be able to support and inspire our exceptionally talented sailors, aircrew and wider workforce family for years to come."
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