Prince Bandar’s Idea Becomes the “Arabian Winds” Expedition
The story began with an idea proposed by Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal nearly a year before the journey began: to explore the potential of paragliding in the Kingdom, assess the suitability of its weather and terrain for this type of aviation, and demonstrate its capacity to support long-distance paragliding journeys across different regions of the country.
As the idea developed, the project went beyond a flying experiment and evolved into a comprehensive expedition to document the Kingdom from the air and produce a documentary film about the journey, under the name “Arabian Winds.”
Three Gliders and 600–800 Kilometers a Day
On June 1, 2006, the expedition set off from the Saudi Aviation Club in Al Thumamah, north of Riyadh, with three gliders piloted by Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, and British pilot John Bally, accompanied by filming, technical, and ground-support teams.
During the journey, the pilots covered between 600 and 800 kilometers per day in an experience that crossed multiple regions of the Kingdom, bringing together aviation, adventure, exploration, and documentation.
A Project to Document the Kingdom from the Sky
“Arabian Winds” was not simply a journey aimed at covering distances. From the planning stages, it evolved into a documentary project showcasing the Kingdom and its natural diversity from the air, offering views of its deserts, mountains, coastlines, and historic sites from a perspective that was uncommon at the time.
Prince Sultan bin Salman expressed the broader vision behind the idea, saying:
Saudis do not see the Kingdom the way I see it. It has not yet been explored enough, and that is what we are working on.
The message was clear: to enable Saudis to see their country from a different perspective, and to make aviation and adventure a means of discovering the Kingdom and showcasing its natural and tourism potential.
An Early Test of the Kingdom’s Recreational Aviation System
The expedition’s significance went beyond filming and exploration. Prince Sultan described the journey at the time as a test of the entire system, involving pilots, support teams, logistics and services, as well as air traffic control and relevant authorities, at a time when recreational aviation was still a relatively new field in the Kingdom.
The stated ambition went beyond the success of the journey itself. It aimed to open a new avenue for paragliding in the Kingdom, attract young people to the sport, and help place Saudi Arabia on the global map of this type of aviation.
15 Seconds That Nearly Ended One Stage of the Journey
The journey recorded one of its most thrilling moments over the highlands of Taif, when Prince Sultan lost lift and was unable to start the engine at a critical moment, leaving only around 15 seconds before deciding to end that stage of the journey.
Before that decision was made, he found rising air currents that lifted the glider back to altitude, allowing him to continue the journey. He later reflected on the experience with the striking remark:
“Adrenaline is a wonderful teacher.”
An Experience Ahead of Its Time
The “Arabian Winds” expedition in 2006 brought together aviation, exploration, tourism, cinematic documentation, and an early test of the Kingdom’s recreational aviation system. It was an experience aimed at presenting Saudi Arabia to both Saudis and the world from a different perspective.
Three gliders, hundreds of kilometers each day, a film documenting the Kingdom from the sky, and an ambition to place Saudi Arabia on the global paragliding map—all of it began with an idea twenty years ago.