Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
A superbly-illustrated book celebrating the long and rich history of Bahrain’s involvement with aviation has been published featuring an archive of nostalgic images alongside a study of modern flight.
Drawing on a wide range of Bahraini sources and UK archives, aviation expert David Watts tells a fascinating story, while the renowned aviation photographer Katsuhiko Tokunaga provides a series of dramatic images of aircraft in action in Bahrain today.
With its strategic location between West and East, the kingdom became a natural staging post when long-distance air routes began to be opened up in the 1920s.
Landing facilities were created on land and at sea, and by the end of the decade both land-based aircraft and the early flying boats were regularly using Bahrain.
The 1930s saw the first passenger services, operated by Imperial Airways starting with the magnificent Handley Page HP42s and later the graceful Short C23 flying boats.
After the Second World War, during which Bahrain experienced a daring Italian bombing raid, the kingdom quickly developed as a crucial transport hub for both international and Middle Eastern air services, and the foundations of Gulf Aviation – later Gulf Air – were laid in the late 1940s.
In 1971 the British RAF relinquished the air base they had leased since the 1920s, and five years later the Bahrain Amiri Air Force – since 2002 the Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF) – was founded.
From small beginnings it has developed into a formidable and highly professional force. Its first aircraft were rotary-winged, but in 1985 it took delivery of its first jet fighters – the Northrop F5, followed in 1990 by state-of-the-art F16s.
Bahrain has trained its own pilots from the beginning and invested in developing its own technical expertise, with the result that the RBAF is recognised as one of the most effective and reliable forces in the region.
It was put to the test in the Gulf War of 1991, gaining high praise from the American commander of operations, General ‘Chuck’ Horner. Civil aviation has also grown apace, and in a highly-competitive environment Bahrain has consolidated its position as a key transport hub, serving both the international and regional communities.
With its longstanding tradition as a trusted friend of the West, it has created a highly-developed civil and military aviation infrastructure which will ensure its pivotal role in future developments.
This year alone the kingdom hosted the second successful Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS 2012) which attracted 60,000 visitors and provided a stage for multi-million dinar industry deals.
The book also features images of Concorde test flights to the kingdom and the uniforms worn by the ‘trolley-dollies’ of yesteryear. Entitled The Story of Aviation in the Kingdom of Bahrain it salutes a remarkable achievement and is available from Jashanmal & Sons bookstores priced BD30.
