Princess Leonor's first solo flight in Murcia

After four months of training, Princess Leonor flew solo in a Pilatus PC-21 at the Air and Space Academy in San Javier

Spain’s Princess Leonor has taken her first solo flight at the Air and Space Academy in San Javier, an important step in her military training. After four months of intensive preparation, she flew the Pilatus PC-21 on her own, a key moment known as ‘la suelta’.

The Princess began her training after studying at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, the Naval School in Marín, and on the training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano, crossing both the Atlantic and Pacific. Like her father, King Felipe VI, she has gone through all three branches of the military and is now in the final stage of her Air and Space Army training in San Javier.

Before flying solo, Leonor spent 50 hours in a full-flight simulator and flew with her instructor, Captain Elena Gutiérrez, the first woman in Spain to fly a Eurofighter alone. Gutiérrez said Leonor is doing the same training as her classmates, just in a shorter time, with the same hours and simulators.

At San Javier, Leonor trains with 74 classmates, 60 men and 14 women, learning not only how to fly, but also pre-flight checks, operational briefings, emergency procedures, and survival at sea. She also trains with all the flight gear she’ll use in the air.

For Murcia, it’s a proud moment to see Spain’s future queen taking to the skies over the Region. The Air and Space Academy continues to be one of the country’s top training centres, and now its skies have carried Princess Leonor on her very first solo flight.

Images: @CasaReal