UAE | Leisure
British pilot sets world record at air show
A British pilot yesterday set a world record by cutting eight ribbons with the propeller of his aircraft, flying as low as five metres from the ground here at the Al Ain Aerobatics Show.
- By Aftab Kazmi, Bureau Chief
- Published: 23:31 May 3, 2009
Al Ain: A British pilot yesterday set a world record by cutting eight ribbons with the propeller of his aircraft, flying as low as five metres from the ground here at the Al Ain Aerobatics Show.
The previous world record was set, also by a British pilot, at Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford by cutting seven ribbons.
The eight ribbons that were mounted on poles were held by 16 people in front of the VIP enclave and the general public pavilion.
The daredevil pilot, 39-year-old Will Curtis, is a member of the British Honda Dream Team that has been participating in Al Ain Aerobatics Show.
The first two poles were held by his fiancee Siobhan Smith and Nigel Cooper, the technical manager of the team.
Curtis made several attempts to cut the ribbons upside down, but the windy condition prevented him from doing this. He also made a successful limbo run by flying underneath the ribbons at a speed of 150 miles per hour in crosswind conditions.
A spokesman of the Honda Dream Team told Gulf News that Curtis would also make another attempt to cut the ribbons by flying his Sukhoi Su-27 yesterday.
The windy conditions were a problem for most participants of the show yesterday. The organisers had to reschedule some of the events and also cancel some. Pilots of different nationalities yesterday continued to display dazzling aerobatic manoeuvres at the show in front of thousands of spectators.
Klaus Schrodt, the 59-year-old German pilot, offered a brilliant performance yesterday on his Extra-300 aircraft.
He is the winner of the freestyle Aerobatics during the Grand Prix held in Al Ain last year.
The five-day aerobatics show opened on Wednesday here at Al Ain International Airport, featuring displays of paratroopers, remote control aircraft, ground displays of civil and military planes, and entertainment activities.
The event, which is expected to attract more than 125,000 people, is jointly being organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and the UAE Air Force with the cooperation of the FAI (Federation Aeronautique Internationale).
More than 500 pilots and technical staff, divided into many teams, from 40 countries, as well as over 100 military and civilian aircraft are participating in the show.
FAI World Grand Prix Championship is also a part of the air show in which pilots from different countries of the world participate.
A team of international paratroopers will attempt to set a new world record during the air show. The World Freefly Team will try to break the Guinness world record in which 42 people displayed the free fall. The team's display this time will include 70 to 80 people in one very large formation in the UAE sky.
Russian Knights scale new highs
The Russian Knights, flying Sukhoi Su-27 heavy fighter aircraft, presented a spectacular show at dusk.
Their stunning display also included firing thermal balloons that are normally used to avoid heat-seeking missiles of enemy fighters.
The thermal balloons coupled with the aircraft formation offered spectacular views to the spectators.
According to the organisers of Al Ain Aerobatics Show, Russian Knights are the only team that performs formations on heavy fighters in the world.
The average weight of the team's aircraft is approximately 150 tonnes while performing due to the gravitational forces.
The total span of the formation is more than 75 metres, which makes these heavy aircraft flying in unison at air shows a real challenge.
The world's only top-of-the-range Sukhoi fighter formation team from Russia has been enthralling spectators every day during the show.
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