London, January 27 : Prince Harry endured a terrifying helicopter crash simulator, dubbed the Dunker, as he trains to pilot the meanest attack machine in the British Army.

The 24-year-old, who recently parted ways with girlfriend Chelsy Davy, was required to undergo the Underwater Escape Training Unit as part of his rigorous
18-month-training programme that will test his aptitude to handle the 45 million pound Apache.

The soldier prince was dropped 50ft into a tank of deep water before being strapped in the steel box.

The royal had to cut his way to freedom within 60 seconds while the sinking "cockpit" was rolled from one side to the other underwater.

And now, after having survived the frightening test, which apparently scares many would-be pilots away, Harry would move on to chase his pilot dreams.

"The Dunker is designed to teach trainee pilots how to escape a helicopter crash at sea, and it's terrifying," the Sun quoted an Army Air Corps source as saying.

"Everybody hates it and it's not uncommon to see people flip out inside it because of the fear of drowning that it induces. It's incredibly realistic, it needs to be. It must have saved many lives."

He added: "Potential pilots often fail it. If they can't get the hang of it they're booked off the pilots' course because it will mean they will die in a real-life scenario." (ANI)