Britain's Prince Harry qualifies as Apache chopper commander

photo In this photo taken Dec.12, 2012, Britain's Prince Harry makes his early morning pre-flight checks on the flight-line from Camp Bastion southern Afghanistan. Prince Harry is now qualified to command a British 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.

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 U.K.

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 U.K. and required him perform a variety of tasks including simulating a low-level attack.

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