Back in July the US played host to Prince William and his new bride Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and this weekend our great nation plays host to the younger Prince Harry. Harry, or Captain Wales as he is known in the British military, has landed on US soil to begin flight training at a military base in Arizona. And get this … Harry will be here in the US for 2 months! Woot!! Click below to see the first photo of Harry upon arrival this weekend here in the US and read some deets about his training mission.

Prince Harry arrived in the U.S. last night on a two-month elite helicopter training programme, paving the way for a second tour of duty in Afghanistan. The third in line to the throne will split his time between Naval Air Facility El Centro, close to the Mexican border in California, and Gila Bend in rural Arizona where he will be taught advanced techniques of flying the Apache attack choppers he once described as ‘awesome’. Exercise Crimson Eagle will take place in locations that replicate the brutal terrain of Afghanistan – over soaring mountains and vast desert with temperatures that reach well in excess of 110 degrees. The rigorous training is reserved for the British Army’s Air Corp’s top flying talent and will see 20 men complete the final stage of the ‘Conversion to Role’ course which focuses on honing aviation environmental skills and live firing and includes techniques such as ground skimming and night flying. Lt Col Peter Bullen, the exercise director, said: ‘He (Harry) is treated exactly the same as any other. He would not want to be treated any differently.’ Assuming, as expected, he passes the course, Captain Wales – as he is known in his professional life – will be one of a select number of pilots to have expertise in the £46 million, two-person, helicopters of which Britain has a fleet of 67. He will be categorised as Limited Combat Ready and will have at least four months of further training before he is available to return to the field as an Apache pilot.

HMMMM … I don’t think I realized that Harry would be here in the US for 2 months. I mean, I knew he’d be semi-close to me here in LA … but a lot can happen in 2 months. I wonder if Harry plans to spend some of his downtime in LA. I, for one, would LOVE to welcome the young prince to the US. Let’s make sure that Captain Wales feels very welcome here in the US. Don’t worry, Brits … we’ll take good care of his royal hotness :D

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