Kings, Queens & Flying Machines - Part 1

The connection between flying and the Royal Family stretches back almost to the dawn of aviation. In 1909, during a visit to Paris, King Edward VII met the Wright brothers and watched them demonstrate their Flyer aircraft.

King George V established an early Interest In aviation in the years immediately before the First World War, and The Prince of Wales (Edward VIII) made his first flight in 1916.

In 1919 the King learned of an earlier flight by the Prince with Major William Barker VC in Italy during 1918. Barker had flown the aircraft with one arm in a sling! When the King heard of this he immediately prohibited his son from flying. Prince Albert (George VI) transferred to the RAF in 1919 and immediately began flying lessons.

The Prince of Wales (Edward VIII) resumed his flying in the 1920s and took delivery of Gipsy Moth G-AALG In 1929.

• Kings, Queens & Flying Machines - Part 2
• Photographs of 'Kings, Queens & Flying Machines'