Prince Andrew's expensive helicopter

May 4, 2010, 12:03 GMT

Britain's Prince Andrew chartered a £5,000 private helicopter to take him to Silverstone last Thursday (29.04.10).

The prince opted to fly in a Sikorsky S-76C helicopter from Windsor Castle - reportedly at the cost of the British taxpayer - for the 120-mile round-trip to officially unveil the newly redesigned race track at the course in Northamptonshire, East Midlands.

Palace sources claimed the prince - dubbed 'Airmiles Andy' by the British press - had to hire the helicopter because his mother, Queen Elizabeth's was not available, and other modes of transport would require the resources of "at least" three police forces.

A first class train ticket for the trip costs around £120.

After being driven around the new Silverstone track, the prince compared his ride in the two-seater F1 car with former British champion driver Damon Hill as like being in a low level Tornado over the Scottish highlands.

He said: "It is that sort of experience because you are being thrown about in the back, and you're relying on somebody else to do the driving. In that sense, I'm an aviator and I've experienced that sort of thing, but this was a completely different sensation.

"I liken it to probably being sat in the back seat of a Tornado at low level over the Scottish highlands. I understand why drivers lose so much weight during a race when they drive around a circuit 65 times."