Sulayem takes astronaut into orbit

Record-breaking astronaut Brian Binnie was brought down to earth today by rally driving legend Mohammed Ben Sulayem in the countdown to the UAE’s new space show.

Binnie, the Virgin Galactic test pilot, rose to fame four years ago when he piloted SpaceShipOne to 368,000ft - just over 112 km - beating the long standing altitude record of the X-15 to clinch the US$10 million Ansari X-Prize.

But even he was happy to be strapped in tight in the cockpit of one of Sulayem’s super cars – a Ferrari Enzo - when the two got together for a few laps around Dubai Autodrome this afternoon.

Sulayem, President of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, came "out of retirement" for the day to display the driving skills which took him to a record 14 FIA Middle East Championship titles and more than 60 international rally victories.

Binnie is visiting the UAE at a time when the Emirates is stepping up efforts to become a serious aviation and aerospace commercial, technical and services hub, and Virgin Galactic recently announced its involvement in the upcoming Global Space Technology Forum, taking place in Abu Dhabi from 16-18 November.

Holder of four world records, Brian Binnie has had a 25-year career as a test pilot, a highlight of which was piloting SpaceShipOne to the Ansari X-Prize and the subsequent birth of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic.

His background includes 20 years as a Naval Aviator, four operational carrier tours and 490 arrested landings as well as combat operations associated with the Gulf War. He has logged over 4800 hours and flown 72 different types of aircraft, helicopters and spaceships.

In the coming months, Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo will be rolling out, and Binnie will be a test pilot and astronaut for that space vehicle as well.

"I’m used to g-force, but this is a new experience for me," he said. "Mohammed is a rallying legend, and it’s great to meet up with him and find that he’s lost none of his speed."

Sulayem, the Arab world’s leading motor sport figure, is currently spearheading preparations for the 18th edition of the UAE Desert Challenge, final round of both the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup for cars and trucks, and the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship for bikes, from 24-31 October.

He said: "These are busy times for both of us, but I’m glad Brian and I were able to get together and I hope he enjoyed the ride. Maybe he can take me for a spin one day!"

Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic is a company established by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group to undertake the challenge of developing space tourism for the consumer. By the end of the decade, Virgin Galactic is planning to make it possible for almost anyone to visit the final frontier at an affordable price.

Visit www.virgingalacticme.com  with information in English and Arabic.

- Tony Lewis, Total Communications Dubai - also photo