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Al Ain
Aerobatics Show 2005 Al Ain (UAE), January 25, 2005: His Highness
General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu
Dhabi's Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander
of the UAE Armed Forces, attended activities and
several aerobatic displays on the second day of Al
Ain Aerobatics Show 2005 that opened at Al Ain
International Airport yesterday (January 24). The
event is being organized jointly by Abu Dhabi
Tourism Authority, the U.A.E. Air Forces and
Air Defence and the Fédération
Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) &endash;
World Air Sports Federation, in cooperation with a
number of government institutions and private
sector agencies in Abu Dhabi. H. H. Lt. Gen. Pilot Sheikh Mohammed
Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu
Dhabi's Statement at the Opening Ceremony
of the Aerobatics Show 2004: "The Aerobatics
Show is about to begin. I hope
(insha-allah) this first show will be a
major success for the city of Al Ain and
continue to grow in the coming years. The
aim of this event is to further increase
the reputation of the U.A.E. on the
international stage and to contribute to
the economic development of this country.
Thanks and congratulations to H.H. Sheikh
Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, all those
involved in the organization and the Al
Ain community for hosting this event. Good
wishes to everybody for the Eid and many
happy returns". Gen. Sheikh Mohammed lauded the efforts exerted
by the organizing committee and relevant agencies.
He said creative ideas were implemented to serve
visitors and the general public and contributed to
further developing the show, enabling it to receive
wide media attention at the local, Arab and
international levels and consequently giving the
UAE a window to the world to show its progress and
advancements in every field.The second edition of
the show is being held at Al Ain International
Airport. A total of 18 teams from 35 countries in
the Middle East, Europe and Asia are taking
part.Gen. Sheikh Mohammed said this kind of air
sports attract large numbers of visitors and
tourists from inside and outside the UAE, due to
their cultural, sports and tourist dimensions,
besides the enthralling performances and formations
presented by international teams of high
professional standards. He wished all participating
teams success in the show. Today's activities consisted of 13 aerobatic
displays, including one by the UAE team flying
Mirage 2000-9 and two Radio-controlled (RC) planes.
Teams from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan,
India and Russia and team of the World Air Sports
Federation took part in today's program. The show has attracted massive media attention
as more than 120 registered journalists from
different parts of the world are in Al Ain to cover
the show. The event coincides with the centennial
celebrations of the FAI, and the UAE is among the
world's first countries to hold these celebrations.
The FAI was set up in Paris in 1905. In addition to aerobatic shows, static aircraft
are on display from the United Arab Emirates Air
Force, including Mirage 2000 fighter jet, Hawk mk63
training jet and most of training aircraft. The
static display also has the latest Pilatus trainer
pedigree, the state-of-the-art and most advanced
Turbo Trainer aircraft in the world, THE ALL NEW
PILATUS PC-21, seen for the first time outside
Europe. Also as part of the static display is the
world renowned PC-12 Executive commuter aircraft.
Besides, Horizon International Flight Academy's Jet
Ranger helicopter is taking part in the show. Active role played by the security committee for
the safety of teams and spectators Colonel Mahash Saeed Al Hamli, Head of the
Security Committee at the Al Ain Aerobatics Show
2005 and FAI World Grand Prix, underlined the
massive efforts being made to enhance the security
and safety of participating delegations and the
general public. He said a precise security plan was
being implemented for the safety of all. Following directives of Sheikh Sultan bin
Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism
Authority, Col. Al Hamli said special emphasis was
laid on the safety of spectators at activity sites
and on providing them with all assistance. He said that preventive measures were being
taken to secure aviation-related activities,
including the entry point to the show area,
vehicular movement, protecting the public against
any human errors, fires or accidents that cannot be
ruled out completely at such activities. Several security agencies, said Col. Al Hamli,
are taking part in the implementation of the
security plan. They include Al Ain Police, Military
Security at the Armed Forces and Civil Defence. As the show is being held within Al Ain
International Airport's area, specific security
measures are carried out, but with view to
facilitating the entry and exit of visitors to the
site. Journey of Hope" &endash; a 15-section
drama laid out in Al Ain skies he Huete Voltage, organisers of the Grand Prix,
presented a dramatic performance over two days,
entitled 'The Journey of Hope', laid out in Al Ain
skies with the participation of 30 'air actors'
flying their aircraft, accompanied by 12 real birds
and six mechanical ones. On the ground, a team of
three musicians played tunes to the movements of
the planes. The 80-minute dramatic show on the first and
second days of the event consisted of 15 sections
was a mixture of music, sports, philosophy and the
thrill of flying at low latitudes. It tells the
story of a crippled boy who dreams about flying as
he watches birds in the sky defying the rules of
gravity. The higher organizing committee invited
all centres for people with special needs to attend
the show for free. Special seating areas for
children were also made available. Website: |
Impressive
participation by world-class regional and
international teams 
He
was accompanied by Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al
Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler's Representative in the
Eastern Region, Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al
Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority,
Lieutenant General Khalid bin Abdullah Al Boainain,
Commander of the UAE Air Forces and Air Defence, as
well as the commanders of the air forces in Morocco
and Jordan and the deputy commander of the Bahraini
air force. The event continues till January 28.Gen.
Sheikh Mohammed said: "The hosting of this major
international sporting and tourist event for the
second consecutive year demonstrates the trust of
the Fédération Aéronautique
Internationale (FAI) &endash; World Air Sports
Federation in UAE expertise in organizing
world-class events. The success achieved in
previous international activities has undoubtedly
been of positive returns from the UAE and
participating teams benefited a lot".He expressed
the keen interest of the UAE in hosting major
events that bring direct and indirect returns to
national sectors like aviation, tourism, the hotel
industry, the transport industry, shopping and
others, and provide opportunities to exchange
expertise and strengthen political, military and
sports cooperation with delegations from all over
the world, a prime objective being sought by the
UAE in its endeavour to host events following the
directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa
bin Zayed Al Nahyan.