AWESOME! Credits to BBC. Prince William performed a "waterbird" landing in a helicopter for the first time. The Duke of Cambridge has landed a Sea King helicopter on water as part of his tour of Canada with his wife, Kate. The RAF search and rescue pilot had requested the exercise ahead of a day of activities on Prince Edward Island.


Prince William - reverting briefly to his alter-ego as Flight lieutenant William Wales of the RAF Search and Rescue service - proved that a Sea King helicopter also has an alter-ego, as quite a handy boat. He was practising a technique known as "waterbirding", perfected by the Canadian marine rescue service for use in emergencies.

He brought the boat-shaped belly gently down onto the surface of the lake more than a dozen times. It was a rather incongruous sight: a half submerged helicopter powering across the lake. Watching it all from the shore was Kate.

Canada is the only country to train its pilots to perform "waterbird" landings, in which the helicopter's engine is cut before it is landed on water. The couple later went head-to-head as they steered teams of dragon boat racers across Dalvay Lake.

William was guided through the tricky manoeuvre in the Sea King by Col Sam Michaud from the Canadian Forces, who described the royal as "relaxed and professional".Prince William lands helicopter on water during Canada tour