UK's swift glider pilot smashes world record for second time in Al Ain

On Thursday, the engine-free ace managed a then record 12 turns in his gravity-defying glider. However the British national, who made his Middle East debut this week, wasn't finished and made it 14 turns on Saturday - much to the delight of the thousands of cheering fans.

Performing turns on a tow, in which the S-1 aerobatic glider describes full turns while still attached to the tow plane, are so highly-specialised that Westgate is currently the only person in the world who can perform them, although popular demand for his show has seen him train current UK glider champion, Mike Newman, to perform the same stunt.

"The trick is not to break the tow rope," explained delighted Westgate after landing his S-1 glider in front of an appreciative crowd. "You need to keep the nose up as much as you can to avoid putting too much strain on it."

Turns on a tow are just a small part of Swift Glider Team's aerial show, which also includes the engine-free glider performing elegant, soundless, aerobatic manoeuvres in the air using nothing but the power of gravity and the warm thermals in the desert sky.

"It's been a magnificent show from our point of view," said Westgate, who also flies part-time for British Airways. "Two world records - that's not bad in anyone's book. We'll go home very satisfied."

Faisal Al Sheikh, Major Events Division Head for show organiser, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, said:

"To have one world record broken in Al Ain is remarkable; to have two is just unbelievable. This really is a great ending to the show, and we'll see if Guy will be back in 2010 to try and do it all over again."

The Al Ain Aerobatic Show 2009 attracted 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 & Investment Company as Silver sponsors and Emirates Motor Company as the official vehicle sponsor. It was supported by Abu Dhabi Airports Company.