Prince William may have ended his role as an RAF pilot last year, but the second-in-line to the throne still has a lot of love for flying.The 31-year-old already holds a private pilot's licence and is now working towards obtaining a commercial pilot's licence. This new qualification would allow William to fly civilian planes for a living.The royal made the revelation during a visit to the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, according to The Express.
William began his RAF career in 2007
William and his wife the Duchess of Cambridge, née Kate Middleton, are currently on a royal tour of the island country and neighbouring Australia with their eight-month-old Prince George.
On a trip to the aircraft museum in Christchurch, William opened up about his future plans to Peter Townsend, chief executive of Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce. "He told me that being in a hall full of aircraft made him long to be flying again," said Peter. "He's got his private licence and he's hoping for his commercial one."
William made the revelation during a museum visit in Christchurch
William is currently on a "transitional year", which means he is deciding what path he will go down in the near future. The charming royal ended his role as an RAF search and rescue pilot last September and bid an emotional farewell to the Welsh island of Anglesey, where he and Kate were based for nearly four years.
Prince William gives emotional goodbye speech at Anglesey
Since then, the Duke has been undertaking royal duties full time and more recently completed a ten-week personalised agricultural course at the University of Cambridge. The course will be invaluable for when William inherits the Duchy of Cornwall estate — worth an estimated £763 million — from his father Prince Charles, when Charles becomes King.
William and his father Prince Charles
In September, William will have to decide whether he will undertake royal duties full time or whether he will work for a charity, a government department or embark on another venture. It is unlikely that the prince would fly commercial planes for a living.
William first started training with the RAF in 2007 and undertook an intensive four-month training course at Cranwell. After this he was presented with his RAF wings by Prince Charles in April 2008, which marked the beginning of William's career with the air force.