Princess Leonor recently completed her first solo flight at the General Air Force Academy, and already, there is controversy. But be careful, not because of the flight itself, which was perfect. The confusion stems from a much more technical, and even somewhat absurd, issue: the aircraft registration numbers in the photos.
It turns out that when the images were released, some people began to notice that different Pilatus PC-21s appeared. The official release was 792-14, but other photos from the training process show 792-12. And of course, they mixed everything up and started saying something wasn’t right.
What happened is quite simple. Leonor, like any Academy student, doesn’t just get on a plane one day and fly solo. Before that, there’s theory, simulators, instructor-led flights, and a gradual learning process. Those photos with different tail numbers are from the earlier phases, not the solo flight.
Zarzuela confirms that everything was a success and they are proud. Academy sources describe her as “brilliant, consistent, and a standout student.” In other words, there was no deception or trickery, just a lack of context when the images were shared.
However, it is true that her training is not exactly the same as everyone else’s. Leonor spends a year at each academy, but she won’t end up becoming a fighter pilot or anything like that. Her training serves another purpose: when she becomes queen, she will be the supreme commander of the Armed Forces and hold the rank of captain general. All of that is in the Constitution. That’s why her time in the Army isn’t just a formality; it’s genuine preparation for a royal role.
Ultimately, the debate stemmed more from a misunderstanding than anything else. If the images had been explained more clearly from the start, no one would have made such a fuss about the license plates. But hey, that’s how networks work.
The important thing is that Leonor completed her solo flight as planned by the training program, using the assigned aircraft and on schedule. The rest is just noise.