Al Ain : Hungarian pilot Zoltan Veres yesterday won the Aero GP race for the second time in a row here at the Al Ain Aerobatic Show.
Nigel Hopking of South Africa was runner-up as the curtain fell on the four-day international event.
Spanish pilot Castor Fantaba secured third place in the competition.
The competition of six pilots was held over four days.
The nail-biting action lived up to the expectations of the judges and spectators as the Aero GP contestants — also including Andy Bickmore of the UK, Somkey Young of the US, and Gerald Cooper of the UK — flew their machines on the final day in the three disciplines of air racing, air combat and flying to musical tunes.
Veres, 47, claimed the top prize with 28 points using the superior horsepower of his MXS plane.
Hopking secured 22 points, and Fantaba 18.
Cooper got 17 points, followed by Bickmore at 16 and Young at 14 points.
Veres won last year's Aero GP.
On the final day of the show some of the world's best stunt pilots performed loops, aileron rolls, and hammerhead displays.
Clear sky
Dozens of aircraft, including 45 military fighter jets and civilian aircraft in solo and team formations took part from 15 countries, entertaining thousands for four days.
Clear skies and moderate winds offered good flying conditions for the participants on the final day.
Faisal Al Shaikh, a senior official of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), said: "We are happy with the success of the air show."
He said the air show has helped put Al Ain and Abu Dhabi among the leading tourist destinations of the world.
The show was jointly organised by the ADTA and UAE Air Force and Air Defence. The event attracted visitors from beyond the UAE and GCC.
With the end of the air show, what is the aspect you will remember the most? How did the event fair as compared to previous events of similar nature?
