Prince Harry has returned to the UK after completing a major exercise in the US flying Apache helicopters with the Army, St James's Palace said.
The royal spent two months taking part in Exercise Crimson Eagle in California and Arizona.
Harry flew the choppers in mountainous and desert conditions, during both the day and night, as well as firing the aircraft's weapons.
A Palace source said Harry, known as Captain Wales in the Army, returned home on Monday night.
He and his fellow students have not quite completed their Apache Conversion To Role course, as they still have some training to do at RAF base Wattisham Station.
The 27-year-old has already been taught to fly the helicopter, and the exercise, split between Naval Air Facility El Centro in California and Gila Bend Auxiliary Air Force Base in Arizona, was designed to prove his proficiency in handling the aircraft.
The exercise included aviation environment and judgment training, and then a live firing phase where the students fired all of the aircraft weapons systems within realistic tactical scenarios.
Lt Col Peter Bullen, chief of staff of the Attack Helicopter Force at Wattisham Station RAF base, said: "Exercise Crimson Eagle is a challenging exercise during which students have had an opportunity to practise skills in a demanding environment with conditions similar to those in Afghanistan.
"In the aviation business we encourage a continual learning process, however the students will certainly leave the States feeling more confident in their own abilities to be able to deliver Apache support in a challenging environment.
"Students will return to the UK and complete a period of further training before finishing their Conversion To Role course."