Al Ain Aerobatic Show in United Arab Emirates

And now let's take a look at the dizzying world of aerobatic competitions. The Al Ain Aerobatic Show in the United Arab Emirates is globally the first air show of the 2011 season. Here's more from our correspondents.

An estimated 60 thousand spectators took in the sights and sounds of the Al Ain Aerobatic Show in United Arab Emirates last weekend.

All kinds of aerial and ground displays thrilled crowds at the two-day event. There were performances by aeroplanes, motorcycles, model aeroplanes, helicopters and a jet-propelled lorry.

This was the ninth edition of the show. It featured more than 25 aircraft, and some of the planet's best aerobatic and formation teams.

Taking centre stage was the multi-discipline Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) Desert Challenge. In this contest, six of the world's best pilots flew in classic and freestyle competition formats.

[Mike Gallaway, Commentator, FIA Desert Challenge]:
"This was the first attempt at us to have an FAI sanctioned contest at an air show, and we flew 2 flights. We flew the compulsory and the freestyle, the crowd seemed to like it because we explained to the crowd briefly what the program was all about and the pilots were being scored by real FAI world class judges."

The Spanish pilot Castor Fantoba was crowned the champion after two days of competition. Flying a Sukhoi 26, the Spaniard recorded an overall score of 70.85 per cent, just 1.82 marks ahead of second place.

[Rajeev Kher, Visitor]:
"The most interesting point in the whole show was the display of that Skip aircraft (Skip Stewart Team) which passed through the pylons and motorcycle looping on top of it. That to me was the best aerobatic display I've ever seen. To me that would be number one."

Besides the aerial displays, there was a ground exhibition with all kinds of family fun.

[Lise Farquhar, Visitor]:
"We brought our children today to experience the airplanes for real and we really appreciate the static displays and the children being able to go on them and look at the airplanes up close. I think it is really inspiring for them."

The Al Ain Aerobatic Show is the first major air show in the world this year, inaugurating the 2011 aerobatic season.

NTD News, Dubai.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• NTD
• Al Ain
• Aerobatic Show
• FAI
• UAE
• aeroplanes
• helicopters
• Desert Challenge
• Castor Fantoba
• Skip Stewart
• Sukhoi 26

[orenoliv]

airshow awe-inspiringly amazing.