Prince Harry qualifies as attack helicopter pilot

Prince Harry is reportedly set to return to war-torn Afghanistan after qualifying as a front line Apache attack helicopter pilot on Wednesday (08Feb12).

Prince Harry, known as Captain Wales in his professional military capacity, was also handed an award at a special dinner after he was judged the best co-pilot gunner out of more than 20 newly-qualified flyers.

A statement from the Ministry of Defense reads, "The award handed to Captain Wales consists of a polished 30mm (millimetre) round from an Apache cannon mounted on a stand."

The royal completed a tough 18-month training programme to qualify, and now sources tell Britain's Daily Telegraph he will return to Afghanistan, where he spent 10 weeks serving as a forward air controller between 2007 and 2008.