Visitors to this month’s Al Ain Aerobatic Show will be treated to a unique fly-pass from Etihad Airways’ recently unveiled Formula 1 branded aircraft.\

Etihad Airways has re-painted an A320 aircraft in the livery of a racing car to celebrate the title sponsorship of next year’s inaugural Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The design on the aircraft sees a break from Etihad’s corporate colours, with the plane painted black with the image of a red Formula 1 car together with the official race title logo on the rear and the Formula 1 logo on the engines.

The Al Ain Aerobatic Show, which is held under the patronage of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nayhan, from January 24 to 27, last year drew an audience of more than 125,000 people from more than 40 countries around the world.

The 2008 event is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority under the direction of chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and head of the Higher Organising Committee Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan.

“The Al Ain Aerobatic Show is renowned across the world with thousands of visitors coming to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to watch the spectacular displays and this year will be no exception with our F1 aircraft fly-pass,” said Etihad Airways’ executive vice-president, marketing and product, Peter Baumgartner.

Etihad Airways entered the world-famous Guinness Book of Records for 2008 following the airline’s successful record for “the greatest weight difference during flight formation” at January’s Al Ain Aerobatic Show.

Captain Granger Narara, Etihad Airways’ vice president flight operations, flew into the record books as he piloted an Etihad Airbus A330-200 in formation with two stunt planes, a Sukhoi Su-26 and an Extra-300S.

Attendees will see impressive aerobatic teams from Italy, the US, Lithuania, UK, Jordan, Hungary, Saudi Arabia and Austria. Static displays are also a highlight of the event, with several jet aircraft of varying size and description on display for enthusiasts to photograph. – TradeArabia News Service