Air show role for Harry in ’copter display team

Harry, known as Captain Wales in the Army, was part of the Apache Attack Helicopter Display Team (AHDT) among the aircraft at yesterday’s popular RAF Cosford Air Show, in Shropshire.

The 28-year-old, a co-pilot gunner, serves with the RAF’s 662 Squadron of the Army Air Corps (AAC) from which the display crew-members have been selected this year.

The Cosford Air Show attracts thousands of people annually with aerial demonstrations including this year the Red Arrows, RAF Chinook transport helicopters, and the RAF Falcons parachute display team.

Harry was among crew selected given his experience in the deadly Apache helicopter, which has seen combat most recently in Libya and Afghanistan.

Lieutenant Colonel Tim de la Rue, commanding officer of 3 Regiment AAC – part of helicopter attack force in 16 Air Assault Brigade – with responsibility for the display team, said Harry had been “delighted” to have been selected as part of the display team for the summer.

“The display team, unlike some other display teams, is not a permanent assignment; rather it is drawn from a pool of suitably qualified and experienced, operationally ready, Apache aircrew and ground crew, and uses aircraft drawn from the operational Apache Squadrons,” he added.

Harry returned to the UK in January, following a five-month tour in Afghanistan co-piloting an Apache.