He met former colleagues including pilot instructor Brian Wills and chief maritime instructor Andy Batchelor, to whom he spoke about maintaining his flying currency.
Wills said: “In a heartbeat, he said he’d come back and do it again.”
Batchelor, who worked with William on search and rescue crews, said: “He’s a great guy, friendly, easy to get on with, a very competent pilot.
“He was very easy to work with. He just wanted to be Will – he was just one of the team.
“It’s great to have him back here for the 85th anniversary. He’s the Prince of Wales so it makes sense, but I think he’s got credibility because he’s lived and worked here in north Wales.”