For his 32nd birthday, which took place on June 21, the Duke of Cambridge received a helicopter for his royal family that now includes his wife Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, and their son Prince George.
E! News reported that Queen Elizabeth II gave her grandson an 8 million pound present ($13.6 million US), the 2008 Agusta A109S Grand helicopter this past weekend. Although the purchase seems luxurious, the chopper will help the royal family save money on family travels. Costs for leasing different choppers every time to attend royal engagements and required safety checks will greatly decrease with the new purchase.
The six-year-old Augusta can fly up to 180 miles per hour at top speed. It can go for 530 miles without refueling, which is roughly 4.5 hours of travel. The Augusta is equipped with leather seats and can accommodate up to seven passengers.
Although Prince William started flight training in 2009, and is a qualified Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot, it’s not guaranteed that he will operate the helicopter.
The helicopter is, which was not previously owner, will however be free to use for the entire royal family and is not specifically for the Prince himself, the report said.
UK publication The Mirror wrote that the chopper will have the Queen’s royal crest, while Sky News reported that the helicopter has already been given the nickname “Heirforce One.”
