UAE | Leisure
Russian Knights soar to top place at air show
The Russian Knights were named the best jet formation team on Monday at the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale's 23rd World Grand Prix on the closing day of the Al Ain Aerobatic Show 2006.
- By Aftab Kazmi, Bureau Chief
- Published: 23:31 May 3, 2009
Al Ain: The Russian Knights were named the best jet formation team on Monday at the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale's 23rd World Grand Prix on the closing day of the Al Ain Aerobatic Show 2006.
The Royal Jordanian Falcons won top position in the propeller formation category of the competition, while Lithuanian pilot Jurgis Kairys took the 2006 Al Ain Freestyle Aerobatic Trophy.
The Russian Knights secured 9,495 points followed by the French team Breitling (8,930 points) in the jet formation category. The South African Sasol Tigers came third. The South African Mazda Zoom Zoom team came second in the propeller category. The winner of the solo competition of the Al Ain Freestyle Aerobatic Trophy, Jurgis Kairys, was the runner-up in last year's competition.
Several international teams as well as individual pilots staged thrilling aerobatic displays for thousands of spectators during the three-day Grand Prix, which was part of the Al Ain Aerobatic Show 2006.
The two events, the Grand Prix and Freestyle Aerobatic Trophy, took place simultaneously. Five solo pilots took part in the trophy competition, while three jet and two propeller teams participated in the grand prix.
The World Grand Prix was open to solo pilots, formation teams, piston-engine, turbo-jet and jet aircraft. According to the organisers, more than 125,000 people witnessed the show.
Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, yesterday distributed trophies to the winning teams and solo pilots at the end of the show. The honouring ceremony was also attended by senior civil and military officials.
Taking the plunge
Skydivers led by the UAE's Nasr Hamood Al Nayadi, staged an aerial display of human flight and stunts on the concluding day of the Al Ain Aerobatic Show 2006.
The World Free Fly Team's show was a daring act yesterday due to the stiff winds blowing at a speed of 16 knots. In the first free fall, 70 members of the team jumped from a height of 14,000 feet, hurtling down to the ground at a speed of 240 kilometres. Later, 19 divers, again led by Al Nayadi, jumped from an even higher altitude of 18,000 feet.
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