Page 87 - Royal Jordanian Air Force Book

H O W I T A L L STA RT E D ROYA L FA M I LY A N D T H E A I R FO R C E

HIS MAJESTY KING HIS MAJESTY KING
HUSSEIN BIN TALAL ABDULLAH II BIN
AL HUSSEIN

While King Abdullah was the founder of the His Majesty King Abdullah II ascended the Throne
RJAF, His Majesty King Hussein was the architect, after the death of his father in 1999. After his
builder, mentor and leader. schooling, he made his career in the army.

King Hussein's love of aircraft and flying started as His Majesty has also served in the anti-tank
a small boy and never diminished over the years. helicopter wing in the Royal Jordanian Air Force,
As a pilot himself, he took the keenest interest in after obtaining qualification as a paratrooper in
all its aspects and devoted much of his time to its military freefall and as a Cobra Attack Helicopter
development. The King's first flight in a pilot's seat pilot, where he received his wings.
was in a Dove on April 6, 1953 after returning from
the UK where he had been attending the Royal His Majesty has attached special importance to
Military College at Sandhurst. He flew with Wing the Air Force and has been behind almost every
Commander Fisher who was the Commander of development in the evolution of the RJAF into
the ALAF at the time. From then on, the King flew a world-class force and a source of pride for all
continuously even though there was considerable Jordanians.
opposition from those who thought it was too
dangerous.

On August 9, 1955, the King first flew the Vampire
T11 with Wing Commander Jock Dalgleish
(Commander of the ALAF) and in May, 1958 he
began flying helicopters.

King Hussein flew many different types of aircraft,
from fighters to helicopters to transport aircraft.
King Hussein's total flying hours up to August 1995
amounted to 6,072.

The King became an Honorary Air Chief Marshal
of the Royal Air Force on July 19, 1966 and was the
Patron of the International Air Tattoo in the UK for
many years.

The King graduated every Air Force pilot since the
King Hussein Air College started in 1975 until his
death in 1999.

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