School children and students turned their childhood dreams into reality when they experienced the thrill of flying Typhoon at a recent exhibition in Riyadh.

The Typhoon flight simulator on display at BAE Systems’ stand at the 27th Al-Janadriyah Culture and Heritage Festival in Riyadh was the star attraction, as kids felt what it was like to be a pilot for the day.

The high-tech flight simulator mimics the Typhoon aircraft with virtual controls based on a real life cockpit, as well as exciting missions, such as landing and take off, touch and go maneuvers, all accompanied by real-life sounds and motions.

During the exhibition, students were able to tour the BAE Systems stand which showcased training and combat aircraft, naval vessels, land vehicles and radar systems, as well as learn more about BAE Systems’ youth training and development programs, which are playing a pivotal role transferring technology back into the Kingdom.

Monther Tayeb, Director of Communications at BAE Systems Saudi Arabia said: “This is the second consecutive year we have supported Al Janadriyah to highlight the dedication and support to our customers within the Kingdom with a broad range of defense, aerospace and security capabilities. We also celebrated the progress we have made in recruiting, training and developing local nationals, so it was particularly rewarding to see young students demonstrating a real eagerness to find out more about our products and services, as well as future career opportunities.”

The Al Janadriyah Heritage and Culture Festival (8-24 February, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) is a celebration of the culture of Saudi Arabia including art, theatre, heritage and history. It has been held annually since 1985 and is organized by the Saudi National Guard under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz.