KHAMIS MUSHAYT, 10 July — A spectacular air show by Saudi fighter planes including F15s and Tornadoes and breathtaking skydives by experts from the land and naval forces were the highlights of the grand opening of the armed forces exhibition at King Khaled Airbase yesterday.
Prince Abdullah, the regent, inaugurated the show and laid the foundation stone for a permanent exhibition of the armed forces at the airbase.
The ceremony was attended by Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, and other princes including Asir Governor Prince Khaled Al-Faisal.
The annual exhibition is one of the main programs of the Abha tourism festival. Abha, located about 670 km south of Jeddah and at 2,200 meters above sea level, is one of the Kingdom’s most enchanting tourist resorts. Last year it attracted more than a million tourists and holidaymakers from inside and outside the country.
Prince Abdullah, accompanied by Prince Sultan and other princes, toured the exhibition which displayed fighter planes, weapons and equipment of Saudi armed forces and security forces including F-15s, Tornadoes, helicopters, armored trucks, tanks and missiles.
The permanent exhibition project includes stands for displaying aircraft and equipment, a main exhibition hall, car parking facility and public utilities.
Prince Abdullah received Lt. Gen. Abdul Aziz Al-Henaidy, commander of the air force, Lt. Gen. Fahd ibn Abdullah, commander of the naval forces, Lt. Gen. Hussein Al-Qubail, commander of the land forces, and Lt. Gen. Abdul Mohsen Al-Hasan, acting commander of the air defense forces.
Meanwhile, Prince Sultan will distribute Abha Prize to its winners at a colorful function at the New Abha Lake today.
He will also attend the first convocation of Prince Sultan College for Tourism and Hotel Management and open a light and sound program of the Abha festival.
