LOG: Saudi International Airshow 13th March

[KDoughty2]

The first ever Saudi International Air took place on the 12th, 13th and 14th March at Al Thumamah Airport, situated some 45km North of Riyadh.

During normal operations the airport is home to the Saudi Aviation Flight Academy (Operating the Diamond NG42), Saudi Aviation Club (mixed light aircraft and Auto Gyros) and a small Cessna maintenance facility.

The Airshow is planned to continue annually for at least the next 4 years.

The following were noted on 13th March;

Civil Airliners/Transporters
A6-BLG B.787 Etihad (Special World Games Livery)
A6-EVH A.380 Emirates Airline
HZ-AK43 B.777 SAUDIA (Formula E Special Livery)
HZ-ASD A.320 SAUDIA
HZ-FAK A.320 FlyaDeal (Named Al Theeb)
PR-ZGQ E.190 Embraer
UR-BXQ IL-76 Maximus
RA-89053 SSJ-100 Sukhoi

Civil Bizz/Executive
A6-EFB Embrear 500 Etihad Flight Academy
A6-RJV B.737 Royal Jet
F-GCDP Falcon 8X Dassault
HZ-A9 Hawker 900 Alpha Star Aviation
HZ-A11 ATR-72 Alpha Star Aviation
HZ-BRQ1 King Air 350 PrivatAir
HZ-MS75 King Air 350 Saudi Aeromedical Evacuation
HZ-SKY A.340 Sky Prime Aviation
HZ-SK4 A.319 Sky Prime Aviation
HZ-SK7 Gulf 450 Sky Prime Aviation
HZ-SSM Beach 350 Samana/Flight Calibration Services
N208UD Ce.208 (cn 5324) Textron Aviation (c/n read and confirmed)
N375AH BK117 (cn 20227) Saudi Aramco (c/n read and confirmed)
N487PH Bell 412 PHI Inc Air Medical
N505GD Gulf 500 Gulfstream
N505SS Gulf 5 Gulfstream
N650GF Gulf 650 Gulfstream
N676EE EMB Legacy 500 Corporate
N680DE Citation Mustang Corporate
N714A Beach 350CER Saudi Aramco
N735LA Cirrus Design SJX Corporate
N750XX Citation X Corporate
N856AH Bell 412 Saudi Aramco
TC-TVH Citation 680A Corporate

Civil General
9M-WAS AW139 (cn 31441) Weststar (c/n read and confirmed)
A6-HIM Bell 429 (cn57340) EDIC Horizan (c/n read and confirmed)
A6-XAJ Aeropratt 22L Private (Based here with Saudi Aviation Club)
HZ-AHM2 Tecnam P.92 Private (Based here with Saudi Aviation Club)
HZ-BMY Aeropilot Legend 600 Private (Based here with Saudi Aviation Club)
HZ-DS2 Aeropilot Legend 600 Private (Based here with Saudi Aviation Club)
HZ-FMS Diamond DA42NG Private (Based Here)
HZ-KT01 DA-42 MPP King Abdulaziz City of Science & Technolog
HZ-MAJ2 Ibis Magic GS7000 Private (Based here with Saudi Aviation Club)
HZ-NJ4 Ce.162 Skycatcher Private (Based here with Saudi Aviation Club)
HZ-OAS Type Unknown Private (Based here with Saudi Aviation Club)
HZ-RW01 Ce.172 Skyhawk SP Rabigh Wings Aviation Academy
HZ-RW3 Tecnam P.2006 Rabigh Wings Aviation Academy
HZ-SAL Tecnam P.2002 Private (Based here with Saudi Aviation Club)
HZ-SBS5 Zenair CH-701 Private (Based here with Saudi Aviation Club)
HZ-UPB BRM Aero (cn 161) Private (Based here with Saudi Aviation Club)
(c/n read and confirmed)
N444SS Cirrus SR.22T Private (Based here)
N447CS Cessna 172S Private (Based here with Saudi Aviation Club)
N5030B Cessna 172S Private (Based Here)
N663MA Air Tractor (cn 0552) Saudi Aramco (c/n read and confirmed)

Military
HZ-129 C-130 1 Sqn Royal Flight/Royal Saudi Airport
477 C-130 4 Sqn/Royal Saudi Air Force
610 F-15E Royal Saudi Air Force (Green 2030 Livery)
625 F-15S Royal Saudi Air Force (US Serial 12-1013)
1304 F-15C 13 Sqn/Royal Saudi Air Force (Green 2030 Livery)
1310 F-15C 13 Sqn/Royal Saudi Air Force (Green 2030 Livery)
(Both F-15C serials were confirmed by their pilots)
Unknown Tornado 7 Sqn/Royal Saudi Air Force (Green 2030 Livery)
823 Cirrus SR.22 8 Sqn/Royal Saudi Air Force
921 PC-21 9 Sqn/Royal Saudi Air Force
8004 Typhoon 80 Sqn/Royal Saudi Air Force (Green 2030 Livery)
(Serial confirmed by Pilot)
8805 Hawk 88 Sqn/ Royal Saudi Air Force
(Now known as “The Saudi Falcon Display Team”)
0188 Hughes 369 (cn 0188FF) Saudi National Guard (c/n read and confirmed)
27274 UH-60M Saudi National Guard
50106 AH-64E Saudi National Guard (US serial 15-00106)
61016 AH-1 (cn 8V613) Saudi National Guard (US Serial 14-61016)
091 Hughes 369 Royal Saudi Land Forces
846 Bell 406 Royal Saudi Land Forces
27180 UH-60L Royal Saudi Land Forces (US Serial 08-27180)
40015 AH-64E Royal Saudi Land Forces (US serial 14-00015)
7225 AS.332F1 (cn2276) Royal Saudi Navy (c/n read and confirmed)
RG002 Giro Royal Guard Paragliding Team
RG003 Giro Royal Guard Paragliding Team
RG005 Giro Royal Guard Paragliding Team
(These serials were confirmed by Piolts)
PSS05 S.92A (c/n 920064) Presidential Security Services (c/n read and confirmed)
A1B3 Type Unknown Pilotless Aircraft

Flying Only
314 Typhoon 3 Sqn/ Royal Saudi Airforce
918 PC21 9 Sqn/Royal Saudi Airforce
1309 F-15C 13 Sqn/Royal Saudi Airforce

Far end of airfield (Not part of Show)
A6-HAL AutoGyro Europe
A6-XLI AutoGyro Europe
HZ-SA01 Diamond DA40 Saudi Aviation Flight Academy
HZ-SA03 Diamond DA40 Saudi Aviation Flight Academy
HZ-SA04 Diamond DA40 Saudi Aviation Flight Academy
HZ-SA05 Diamond DA40 Saudi Aviation Flight Academy
HZ-SA16 Diamond DA42 Saudi Aviation Flight Academy
HZ-SA17 Diamond DA42 Saudi Aviation Flight Academy
HZ-SA19 Diamond DA42 Saudi Aviation Flight Academy
HZ-SA20 Diamond DA42 Saudi Aviation Flight Academy
OK-MDF Let L.410 Stored in poor condition

[Stefan]

The first ever Saudi International Air took place on the 12th, 13th and 14th March at Al Thumamah Airport, situated some 45km North of Riyadh.

During normal operations the airport is home to the Saudi Aviation Flight Academy (Operating the Diamond NG42), Saudi Aviation Club (mixed light aircraft and Auto Gyros) and a small Cessna maintenance facility.

The Airshow is planned to continue annually for at least the next 4 years.

Thanks for posting! Interesting development!

Was it any good for photos?

Rgds,
Stefan

[Marijn]

Great report of a seldom visited country, very nice!
Did you manage to read off the c/n's of the UH-60L/M's?

[KDoughty2]

Photography was allowed without any restrictions, however some aircraft were parked a little too close for good shots although I still managed in excess of 200 frames.

[KDoughty2]

Unfortunately I didn't get the UH-60 c/n's. There were no plates, on any of the example on show in the location I would have expected to see the con plates on a UH-60's

[AndyMarden]

091 is a Schweizer S-333 Keith.
Andy

[KDoughty2]

Andy

Correct. God knows where my brain went with that one.

Keith

[Stefan]

Photography was allowed without any restrictions, however some aircraft were parked a little too close for good shots although I still managed in excess of 200 frames.

Cool, thanks for your reply!

Rgds,
Stefan