Al Ain, February 04: The 2011 Al Ain Aerobatic Show will take off today with big crowds expected to turn up to witness the amazing line-up of top-class aerobatic talents from across the world.
With so much to enjoy, the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and the UAE Armed Forces have confirmed that gates will open at 9am instead of at 12noon as announced earlier and close at 6.30pm instead of 6pm, on both Friday and Saturday. Displays will start at 10am. The extended opening times are designed to meet the spectator demand to watch the more than 15 aerobatic and display teams from three continents that are taking part, including representatives from three national air forces. Visitors holding tickets from Wednesday or Thursday will be able to present them to gain free entry on either day over the weekend.
“The unprecedented delay has served to heighten anticipation, so we wanted to give something back to the visitors. Extending the opening hours and flying time is the perfect way,” said Sultan Al Muhairi, Event Coordinator at ADTA.
“Visitors can now get even more for their money when they come to the Oasis City this weekend. The Al Ain Aerobatic Show is one of the world’s top aerobatic shows and will offer an unforgettable experience for all the family, with an unbeatable range of aerobatic displays and formation flying,” he added. With more than 25 aircraft taking to the skies in the daily flying display, including some of the world’s best formation teams, organisers provided details of the weekend’s flying programme.
The unique, multi-discipline FAI Desert Challenge will open the show on both days over the weekend. Arranged by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the international governing body for air sports, this breathtaking aerial tête-à-tête will see six of the world’s best pilots flying in classic and free-style competition formats. The afternoon is set to witness one of the 2011 show highlights, with a fighter jet flypast from the UAE Air Force, as well as a breath-taking display from the Royal Saudi Air Force aerobatic team. And providing the perfect finale, global Abu Dhabi ambassador Hannes Arch will perform his stunning new ‘Rhythm & Air’ routine at sunset on both days. Other gravity-defying stunts include wing-walkers, subsonic jets and choreographed ‘dancers in the sky’.
–Agencies–