Harry's delight at Spitfire flight

Prince Harry has enjoyed his maiden trip in a Spitfire - the symbol of Britain's fight against Hitler's Nazis during WWII.

Prince Harry has flown a Spitfire - and put it through a dramatic roll - as he caught up with an injured serviceman and veterans hoping to pilot the aircraft in a Battle of Britain flypast.

Howling with delight as he briefly flew upside down, Harry clearly enjoyed his maiden trip in the aircraft - the symbol of Britain's fight against Hitler's Nazis during WWII.

On the ground he met two men who have won a place on a Spitfire scholarship training program for wounded servicemen and women, and veterans, with the pair aiming to join a historic aircraft flypast, later this year, to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

The scholarship donates money and offers practical help to sporting and adventure challenges for service personnel.

Footage and pictures released of the flight made last August show Harry sat in the back of the two-seater Spitfire and the pilot, instructor Phil O'Dell, giving instructions for the engine to be started, then the plane is seen taking off in formation with an identical aircraft.

After the roll O'Dell takes over the controls and before he performs a loop the prince asks the instructor, "what's the G (force) like on that?" and winces when he hears the reply "about two and a half, three".

But again the manoeuvre leaves him howling in appreciation with his mouth open for most of the time.

The prince launched the scholarship program last year which draws inspiration from legendary pilot Douglas "Tin Legs" Bader, who despite losing both his legs in a crash in 1931 claimed 20 individual aerial victories in WWII.


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Source: AAP



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