A previous version of this article reported that Sergeant Major Michael Booley stated that the version of events published in Prince Harry's 'Spare' was a 'complete fantasy'. In fact, Booley has never made any reference to this version of events as being 'fantasy', but believed the reference to flying sorties was 'dramatised' and disputed the accuracy of some other accounts in the book. We are happy to clarify this and apologise for the error.
Prince Harry's former Army instructor says his account of a "suicide" training flight has been 'dramatised' by a ghost writer, The Sunday Mirror reports. The Duke of Sussex claimed in his memoir Spare that an instructor had deliberately stalled their Slingsby T67 Firefly propeller plane without warning.
However, ex-Sergeant Major Michael Booley has insisted that every detail of training flights is discussed beforehand. He said: “I am staggered by this. In shock even.”
The prince wrote: “On one of our first flights together, with no warning, Booley threw the aircraft into a stall. I felt the left wing dip, a sickening feeling of disorder, of entropy, and then, after several seconds that felt like decades, he recovered the aircraft and levelled the wings.
“I stared at him. What in the absolute—? Was this an aborted suicide attempt?’ No, he said gently. This was the next stage in my training.”
But Booley has claimed the prince's tale is untrue, saying: "Whilst the book compliments me, the recollection of the sorties and lessons is inaccurate, I’m afraid. It’s important to highlight that nothing in the cockpit comes as a surprise. Every sortie is thoroughly briefed beforehand, every single aspect.
“The sortie is flown exactly as per that brief. The only time there are surprises is later in the syllabus, not as stated in the book, when emergencies are introduced.
“Engine failures are practised before the first solo obviously, in case the student suffers one.”
He said: “I think the reference to the flying sorties has been dramatised. I think it’s a result of the ghost writing."
Michael, 57, served in the military for 33 years, and taught the Duke of Sussex, who he ranks in his top five students, how to pilot the Firefly in 2009. Harry flew Apache attack helicopters in Afghanistan, and was later presented with his wings by Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps, his father, King Charles.
Despite some scepticism about parts of the book, Michael insists he still has the upmost respect and admiration for Harry, recalling a time they shared a roast lamb for a Sunday lunch. The pair were also pictured together shortly after Harry graduated from the Defence Elementary Flying Training School in 2009.
Michael adds: “He was an exceptional student, very talented indeed. He is a friend and a man I respect immensely who would always have my ear.”
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