Tue, Dec 02, 2025
“Sand & Fun” Event Sets Guinness World Record for Unique Firework Show
Riyadh’s General Aviation Airshow “Sand & Fun” can add a Guinness World Record to its resume thanks to a helicopter equipped to launch more fireworks than anyone would’ve thought possible. The Saudi Aviation Club pulled off the feat at Al-Thumamah Airport using a modified MBB Bo 105 P1M fitted with a custom pyrotechnic platform engineered for the display.
The record was officially awarded for the most fireworks launched while suspended from a helicopter. It unfolded on November 27 as the aircraft released hundreds of fireworks in a tightly choreographed sequence using a system developed with Poland-based Aeropact and the UAE’s Flash Art, pairing aviation hardware with show-control tech to create a first-of-its-kind airborne art show.
“This achievement demonstrates the Kingdom’s ambition to lead in the global aviation sector,” said Prince Sultan bin Salman, founder and chairman of the Saudi Aviation Club. “We are establishing new international standards from the heart of Riyadh, supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.”
“Sand & Fun” also set an attendance record this year, with 62,371 visitors in a single day. Captain Farres Moneer, board member and general executive manager, added that “we successfully surpassed our targets, welcoming over 200,000 visitors this year, including participants and delegates from more than 90 countries.”
Beyond the flying, visitors were given access to a lineup of ground attractions that ranged from static aircraft to “Hangar Talks” focused on eVTOL and AI trends. The business side of the show was also active, featuring more than 150 exhibitors and roughly 3,000 VIP visitors.
The show’s closing tallies were also impressive. 18 agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed during the week, generating more than SR250 million (about $67 million) in projected economic impact. The deals mostly center on technology transfer and localizing advanced aviation industries.
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