Saudi Fighters Showcased in Egypt’s Miniature Art Exhibition

Eurofighter Typhoon of the Saudi Royal Air Force (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Eurofighter Typhoon of the Saudi Royal Air Force (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Fighters Showcased in Egypt’s Miniature Art Exhibition

Eurofighter Typhoon of the Saudi Royal Air Force (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Eurofighter Typhoon of the Saudi Royal Air Force (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Egypt Miniature Art Exhibition displayed various models and miniature planes, tanks, boats, and cars made of plastic, cardboard, and wood.

The fourth edition of the Miniature Exhibition is organized by the Egyptian Scale Modeling Club and held in Cairo at the Opera House, with dozens of amateurs and professionals.

Among the replicas, a group of Saudi Royal Air Force aircraft models was showcased, attracting visitors to the exhibition.

Egyptian engineer Sayed Fouad, one of the organizers, told Asharq Al-Awsat that he has always been fond of planes and the air force because his father worked in the Egyptian air force.

Over the past years, Fouad has executed dozens of models of Egyptian combat aircraft. However, he began building Arab models, starting with the Saudi Royal Air Force.

He built several aircraft, the last of which was the Eurofighter Typhoon with the 10th Squadron logo numbered 1001.

Speaking about the exhibition, Fouad explains that 50 exhibitors participated in the fourth edition, which is a large number compared to the first exhibition, which included five artists. He also indicated that this exhibition contains various showcases for all ages, with unique pieces for children.

Mohammed Tamer, 14, participated in the exhibition for the first time with a model of the Eiffel Tower made entirely from wood sticks.

The exhibition also features for the first time works of scrap recycling. Amir Fayek displayed unique pieces with reused wood and metal.

Fayek told Asharq Al-Awsat that he used scraps and reused materials to produce his models, such as cameras, motorcycles, and guns.

He explained that he recycles materials and uses them together to produce three-dimensional works, which is a hobby that he started a few years ago.

“I started by experimenting with collecting discarded pieces in my home until I mastered it in a short time,” Fayek said, stressing that experimenting and imagination can help in producing art pieces.

It is Fayek’s first time at the exhibition, noting that he was introduced to the works of his fellow exhibitors, which inspired him to experiment with models similar to their pieces but made from scrap, which is cheap compared to the materials they use.

Engineer Hatem Othman used his talent to document the global wars, presenting models for scenes from each battle.

Othman had models representing the countries that fought each war, such as the Korean War and the wars between Egypt and Israel, the 1982 Lebanese War, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf War between Iran and Iraq.

Othman explained that he was always fond of reading about wars and looking up information about tanks and armored vehicles.



NASA's Stuck Astronaut Steps Out on a Spacewalk after 7 Months in Orbit

FILE PHOTO: The NASA logo is seen at Kennedy Space Center ahead of the NASA/SpaceX launch of a commercial crew mission to the International Space Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US, April 16, 2021. REUTERS/Joe Skipper/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The NASA logo is seen at Kennedy Space Center ahead of the NASA/SpaceX launch of a commercial crew mission to the International Space Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US, April 16, 2021. REUTERS/Joe Skipper/File Photo
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NASA's Stuck Astronaut Steps Out on a Spacewalk after 7 Months in Orbit

FILE PHOTO: The NASA logo is seen at Kennedy Space Center ahead of the NASA/SpaceX launch of a commercial crew mission to the International Space Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US, April 16, 2021. REUTERS/Joe Skipper/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The NASA logo is seen at Kennedy Space Center ahead of the NASA/SpaceX launch of a commercial crew mission to the International Space Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US, April 16, 2021. REUTERS/Joe Skipper/File Photo

One of NASA’s two stuck astronauts got a much welcomed change of scenery Thursday, stepping out on her first spacewalk since arriving at the International Space Station more than seven months ago.

Suni Williams, the station's commander, had to tackle some overdue outdoor repair work alongside NASA's Nick Hague. They emerged as the orbiting lab sailed 260 miles (420 kilometers) above Turkmenistan, The AP reported.

“I'm coming out,” Williams radioed.

Plans called for Williams to float back out next week with Butch Wilmore. Williams and Wilmore launched aboard Boeing’s new Starliner capsule last June on what should have been a weeklong test flight.

But Starliner trouble dragged out their return, and NASA ordered the capsule to come back empty. Then SpaceX delayed the launch of their replacements, meaning the two won’t be home until late March or early April — ten months after launching.

It was the first spacewalk by NASA astronauts since an aborted one last summer. U.S. spacewalks were put on hold after water leaked into the airlock from the cooling loop for an astronaut's suit. NASA said the problem has been fixed.

This was the eighth spacewalk for Williams, who has lived on the space station before.