It was during EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. John and I were seated at a dinner table when a friend brought up a visitor. We were informed the visitor was a prince of Saudi Arabia—and what ensued is the kind of extraordinary conversation that can happen at Oshkosh. I am sorry to say that I did not do a very good job with the conversation; I had no idea what to say to a prince. I later learned he had been a fighter pilot, as well as an astronaut in a space shuttle mission. Had I known those things, I would have done a better job—I do have some idea of what to say to a fighter pilot and an astronaut. Our visitor was His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman, an ardent supporter of general aviation and son of the king.
Sky Kings: We’re Not In Kansas Anymore
Key Takeaways:
- The author and John were invited to Saudi Arabia by Prince Sultan bin Salman, an ardent supporter of general aviation (GA), to attend and speak at an airshow aimed at promoting GA.
- The visit provided a cultural immersion while highlighting Saudi Arabia's efforts to foster general aviation, including designating a new GA airport and featuring hangar talks.
- The article notes both the emerging role of women in Saudi aviation and the significant challenges GA faces, such as regulatory hurdles, high costs, and a lack of infrastructure, despite strong advocacy from influential figures like Prince Sultan.
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