JEDDAH, 30 March 2007 — Shihab Alireza, a young Saudi pilot, will mark his first training program after being chosen among other new trainees in the Red Bull Air Race with a demonstration over the Corniche fountain at 4 p.m. today.
This follows an intensive training he underwent in allotted camps in Germany, Austria and Spain.
Shihab is the only Arab pilot in the group of new trainees in the Red Bull Air Race. Saudi Aviation Club (SAC) President Prince Sultan ibn Salman has approved the SAC in Al-Thumama (Riyadh) as the training headquarters for Shihab.
Prince Sultan, also co-sponsor of Shihab, has described his nomination to participate in the training as exemplary. The Saudi pilot took part in a series of stringent tests, including the most important one taken under the supervision of international coeval pilot Peter Besenyei during the Red Bull Air Race round held in Budapest, Hungary, in August 2006. Following his demonstration under the supervision and participation of Austrian pilot Hannes Arch, one of the active participants in the Red Bull Air Race 2007, the Saudi pilot will continue his intensive training at Al-Thumama. The Saudi pilot will also carry on with training at a number of international training camps during the training course in the Red Bull Air Race in Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, Barcelona and Perth. Shihab aims to take part as a key participant in the Red Bull Air Race 2008 or 2009.
The Red Bull Air Race is described as the only air race of its kind in the world, which involves 12 rounds and hosted by global cities including Rio de Janeiro, Istanbul, Barcelona, Interlaken (Czech Republic), London, Budapest, Porto (Portugal), San Diego, Acapulco (Mexico), Perth and Abu Dhabi. A number of air race enthusiasts are expected to occupy vantage positions along the Corniche to witness the pilot’s skills.
