JEDDAH, 14 March 2007 — Shihab Alireza, the first Saudi and Arab rookie in the Red Bull Air Race, will present a breathtaking demonstration over the fountain on the Jeddah Corniche on March 30.
Shihab, who works as a professional pilot at Saudi Aramco, claims to have received support from Prince Sultan ibn Salman, the first Arab and Muslim astronaut and chairman of the Saudi Aviation Club. “He directly supervised and followed all the harsh and rough tests that I passed before the organizing committee for the Red Bull Air Race declared me as the first Arab pilot to get engaged in the Red Bull Air Race 2007’s trainee lessons,” Shihab said.
“This show has laid a great responsibility on me to represent the Kingdom and is a great incentive to help me pass various stages of the difficult test,” Shihab told reporters yesterday.
He extended his thanks to Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed for enabling him to start off from his hometown Jeddah in an aerobatic show, the first of its kind being held over the fountain.
Red Bull Air Race is the only air race of its kind in the world and will be held in 12 rounds in cities including Rio de Janeiro, Istanbul, Barcelona, Interlaken, London, Budapest, Porto (Portugal), San Diego, Acapulco, Perth and Abu Dhabi.
Shihab is the only Arab rookie pilot who will be trained during the season of 2007 in four worldwide locations — Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, Barcelona and Perth in Australia, along with his intensive training in the Kingdom under the direct supervision of the Saudi Aviation Club.
Shihab started playing computer games including the flight simulator at the age of 12. “This helped me a lot in my interest in flying and career as a pilot,” said the 37-year-old who claims to have 5,500 flying hours to his credit and hopes to take part in the Red Bull Air Race in the next two years.
