Bahrain-based champion pilot takes to air in Al Ain Aerobatic Show

Will Curtis, 44, who has been a regular on the European air show circuit for ten years, is also Group CEO of executive jet operator, Rizon Jet, but agreed to step out of the office and into his jump suit for spectators at the four-day event.

Curtis has wowed crowds with his displays in the skies over Al Ain before. The last time was in 2006 when he came fourth in the World FIA Grand Prix of Aerobatics at the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority-organised event.

"Al Ain 2009 will be the only show in which I participate this year - so the only place the general public can see me perform," said the much-medaled British pilot who broke his own world record at Al Ain Air Show 2006 by inverted limbo-flying under 11 ribbons, cutting them as he went.

Curtis, who lives in Bahrain with his wife, Siobhan, holds an airline transport pilot license with unlimited aerobatic display authorisation to three feet, has ratings on various executive jets and boasts more than 7,000 hours flight time.

In addition to his Al Ain honours, Curtis has amassed a cabinet-full of awards during his years as an aerobatic pilot, including the Breitling Trophy, The Boeing Trophy and the Douglas Barder Shell Oil trophy for Best Air Display.

"I have been well-known throughout Europe for a number of years and have been sponsored by Alpine, Honda and Road Angel," said Curtis. "I fly a Sukhoi 26 M2, the world's ultimate aerobatic aircraft, and have performed over 1,000 public displays in the 12 years since I began flying aerobatics."

And Curtis is hoping some of the crowd at Al Ain Aerobatic Show will turn out to support him.

"I am well known for my Sukhoi 26 aerobatic displays, which have been seen by millions of fans throughout Europe and the Middle East both live and on TV. I have a wide fan base who have followed my progress throughout the years and I expect some of those fans will be present at Al Ain 2009," he said.

Al Ain Aerobatic Show 2009 is organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and the UAE Air Force, and is held under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The Al Ain Aerobatic Show 2009 has a high-profile sponsorship line-up including Pilatus, Abu Dhabi National Hotels, Etihad Airways and Al Ain Mineral Water as Gold sponsors; Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies and Tourism Development and Investment Company as Silver sponsors and Emirates Motor Company as the official vehicle sponsor. It is supported by Abu Dhabi Airports Company.