Prince Harry qualifies as Apache chopper commander

Britain's defense ministry says Prince Harry has qualified to command an Apache attack helicopter - the culmination of his training over the last three years.

Britain's defense ministry says Prince Harry has qualified to command an Apache attack helicopter - the culmination of his training over the last three years.

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Harry, known as Capt Wales in the army, earlier this year completed a 20-week deployment in Afghanistan as a co-pilot gunner on an Apache and since then has flown missions in the UK.

His commanding officer, Lt Col Tom de la Rue, called the qualification a "tremendous achievement," saying in a statement Friday that 28-year-old Harry had passed with "flying colors."

The military said Harry had undergone months of training to prepare for the test, which involved a "grueling" six-hour flying assessment which took him all over the UK and required him perform a variety of tasks including simulating a low-level attack.