This week, the Spanish Royal Household published previously unseen images of Princess Leonor at two air bases as part of her training at the General Air and Space Academy.
Albacete and Badajoz were the two stops, and the photos show the heir apparent already integrated into the real operations of the Air Force’s elite units, working as part of the 78th class’s training program.
Princess Leonor at the Los Llanos Air Base in Albacete
On April 21, Leonor and her classmates visited the Los Llanos Air Base in Albacete, the headquarters of Wing 14 and home to the Eurofighter C.16s, the jet fighters that protect Spanish and NATO airspace. She toured hangars and observed demonstrations of the Tactical Leadership Program, the advanced training center for pilots of the Atlantic Alliance.
The visit featured a great deal of technical content, which is a genuine part of what it means to prepare to become the future Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Princess Leonor’s flight in an F-5 in Badajoz
The next day, at the Talavera la Real Air Base in Badajoz, the most remarkable moment arrived. Leonor flew in an F-5 jet aircraft accompanied by an instructor, the same type of experience that fifth-year cadets undergo as they prepare to become fighter pilots.
The F-5M operated by Ala 23 is used in Spain exclusively for advanced training and is known among pilots precisely for being an aircraft with few electronic aids, which requires pilots to develop manual dexterity and quick reflexes before making the transition to a Eurofighter or an F-18.
What awaits Leonor this summer
This summer, the Princess of Asturias will complete all three military training courses and will be awarded the ranks of Cadet Ensign in the Army and Air Force and Cadet Frigate Ensign in the Navy. In July 2027, she will be commissioned as a Lieutenant and Ensign in the Navy at ceremonies in Zaragoza, Marín, and San Javier.
In the meantime, during the 2026–2027 academic year, she will study Political Science at Carlos III University while maintaining her connection with her academy cohorts.
It is a carefully crafted schedule, following the same pattern set by her father, King Felipe VI, which prepares her for active service before she transitions to university life.