PRINCE Harry was preparing today for an eight-week intensive helicopter training program in California.
The course - codenamed Crimson Eagle and scheduled to begin at El Centro Naval Air Facility within the next few days - will take the 26-year-old pilot one step closer to front-line duties, Sky News said.
Known in his defence role as Captain Harry Wales, the prince has always made it clear that a prerequisite to his Apache helicopter training - which carries a �1 million ($1.54 million) price tag - is his return to theater.
He has been training at Britain's School of Aviation at Middle Wallop, south-west of London, but in order to be brought up to "battle ready" status, Prince Harry must complete a special Conversion to Role course.
"The training in the USA will consist of environmental training, live firing and tactical exercises," a St James's Palace spokesperson said.
El Centro NAF operates target ranges for aerial combat maneuvering, air-to-ground gunnery, bombing, electronic warfare training and low-level flying.
The British military has been training at the base - 140km east of San Diego - for more than 20 years. The prince's two-month stint will also see him work out of Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field, another 275km east in neighbouring Arizona.
His time off will be limited during the tour, but it is traditional for those on Exercise Crimson Eagle to take a half-way break in Las Vegas.
After Prince Harry returns home in December, he will join one of the Apache squadrons and gain wider experience of flying the helicopter by taking part in exercises around the UK.
Read more at Sky News.
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