Air transport provides a quick and efficient way for members of the Royal Family to carry out engagements across the UK and overseas. It has allowed The Queen to travel to countries and places never possible for her predecessors.
The Royal Travel Office based at Buckingham Palace co-ordinates use of the different types of aircraft by members of the Royal Family, ensuring that their use is both appropriate and cost-effective.
Official flying for members of the Royal Family is provided by the Sikorsky S-76 C++ helicopter operated by the Royal Household from Blackbushe Aerodrome in Hampshire.
The Royal Household S-76 is finished in the red and blue colours of the Brigade of Guards.
The cost of official Royal travel by air is met by the Royal Travel Grant-in-aid, the annual funding provided by the Department for Transport.
Air transport has been used by the Royal Family for Royal visits since the 1930s. King Edward VIII became the first British monarch to fly in 1936.
Royal flying was formalised on 21 July 1936 with the creation of The King's Flight at Hendon in North London. The new flight operated a single twin-engine Dragon Rapide, G-ADDD, formerly King Edward VIII's private aircraft.
The Dragon Rapide was replaced in May 1937 by an Airspeed Envoy III, G-AEXX, the first aircraft purchased specifically for The King's Flight.
The Second World War saw The King's Flight temporarily disbanded, although members of the Royal Family continued to fly using military aircraft.
In 1946 The King's Flight was reformed, in greater strength, at RAF Benson with four Vickers Vikings. The following year all were heavily used during the Royal Tour of South Africa.
The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) became the first member of the Royal Family to fly, learning in France during the First World War. The Prince went on to become a skilful pilot.
Since then many members of the Royal Family have learnt to fly, including The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of York (a Royal Navy helicopter pilot), The Duke of Cambridge (a RAF helicopter pilot) and Prince Harry (an Army Air Corps Pilot).
