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Al Ain - 28th January 201011-Plane Fly-Past Celebrates Al Ain Aerobatic Show
Two teams visit Al Ain, Abu Dhabi & Dubai
Two aerobatics teams participating in this year's Al Ain Aerobatic Show have made a spectacular fly past over the southern Emirates at the start of the second day of the internationally acclaimed event.
The four-day show, which is being held at Al Ain International Airport every afternoon until Saturday January 30th, is the world’s only aerobatic spectacle that combines military and civil aircraft, stunt displays and competitions.
At 9.50am, the seven L-39 Albatros Breitling Team jets joined forces with the four BAC 167 Strikemasters of Team Viper, flying over Al Ain before heading towards Dubai. They passed over the Burj Khalifa and the Atlantic Hotel and then headed on up the coast to Abu Dhabi, circling the Emirates Palace Hotel and Grand Mosque and finally returning back to Al Ain.
Although the Breitling Team has performed before at the Al Ain Aerobatic Show, this is the first time it has done so with seven member aircraft, and, coincidentally, the last year that they will be flying in this livery. This year is also the debut appearance at the show for the Vipers.
Faisal Al Sheikh, Manager of the Major Event’s Division of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), which organises the show in conjunction with the UAE Armed Forces, explained that a record 23 international teams from 15 countries are taking part in the Show this year. "Since its inception eight years ago, the Show has gone from strength to strength. Not only are more teams from more countries competing; but in addition there is ever-growing interest from around the world, with visitors coming from as far away as Canada, the USA, Australia and Chile.
“Among the many highlights are a number of other firsts," he continued. "For instance, the South African Goodyear Eagles Aerobatic Team are attempting a never-before-seen triple synchronised inverted parachute drop, whilst three aircraft perform a formation loop.
"For the first time, too we have on display an AH-64D Apache, four-blade, twin-engined attack helicopter belonging to the UAE’s Air Force and Air Defence, whilst the Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF) is making its international debut, with two RBAF F16s demonstrating daily. Crowd favourites the Saudi Hawks – the Royal Saudi Air Force Aerobatics Team – are also performing a new, tight-formation flying routine."
Held under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the Al Ain Aerobatic Show is organised by ADTA and the UAE Air Force and is supported by an extensive list of sponsors. These include gold sponsors Etihad, Pilatus, Al Ain Water and Abu Dhabi National Hotels, along with silver sponsors Mubadala Aerospace, ADAT, Al Ain Municipality and Panasonic. Costa is the official retailer and is partnering with The National, a leading UAE English language daily newspaper, to create ‘The National Costa Coffee Lounge’ – a relaxed venue to grab a coffee and paper.Emirates Motor Company – the authorised general distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain and flagship company for Al Fahim Group – is providing the official vehicles.
Daily tickets for the show are pegged at last year’s prices - Dhs40 per adult and Dhs25 for children between three and 10 years. Children under the age of three get in free. They can be bought via www.timeouttickets.com or from a special Toll Free hotline: 800 4669.
For more information – www.alainaerobaticshow.com or call 800 555 (within UAE)
