Strong winds fail to deter air show Grand Prix

Al Ain: Pilots on Sunday resumed their stunts on the fifth day of Al Ain Aerobatic Show 2006.

The event of the air show was the 23rd World Grand Prix Championship of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale's (FAI), which was also witnessed by Major General Khalid Bin Abdullah Mubarak Al Bu Ainain, Commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defence and Lieutenant General Walter E Buchanan, US Commander of Air Force.

The final of the championship, being held as part of the Al Ain Aerobatic Show for the third consecutive year, will be held today. The championship started on Friday. This is the third such event that has been taking place in Al Ain as part of the Al Ain Aerobatic Show.

Windy conditions dominated even yesterday in the morning but the officials went ahead with the show.

Winds, blowing at a speed of 13 knots when the competition started, were strong for most of the competitors. The pilots, however, took the conditions in their stride and displayed a mastery of aviation sport through breathtaking stunts.

A FAI official told Gulf News that the Grand Prix aims to popularise air sports as an image of precision and accuracy, technical achievement and team spirit. It is also aiming at offering a testing bench and practice field for advance technologies.