Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
The Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) proved once again to be a roaring success in the air and on the ground with its fantastic flying displays and impressive trade show attracting more than 50,000 visitors to the Sakhir Air Base over the weekend.
The third edition of the aviation event was held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad and was organised by the Ministry of Transportation in co-operation, with the Royal Bahrain Air Force, under the close supervision of His Majesty’s Personal Representative and head of the Supreme Organising Committee of BIAS, Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and in partnership with Farnborough International.
The three-day aviation festival featured around 60 aircraft on static display in the trade and public areas including military aircraft from the US, the UK, France, Turkey and Russia as well as commercial aircraft from Airbus, Boeing, Gulfstream, Embraer and Cessna.
Another 50 aircraft took to the skies for the daily four-hour flying displays despite the unpredicted wintry weather conditions on the last day of the event.
Some of the highlights included an opening by Royal Bahraini Air Force formation display and military aircraft such as the RAF Typhoon, the USAF B-1 and F-22 Raptor and UAE Air Force F-16 and Mirage 2000-9, aerobatic displays by the UAE’s Al Fursan, the Saudi Hawks and the Russian Knights; and parachuting displays by Bahrain Royal Special Forces and the Red Devils team.
A restored Spitfire also made an appearance, celebrating the kingdom’s historic links with the iconic fighter.
DHL Bahrain, the official logistics partner of BIAS, participated with three aircraft called TeamExtra 200, TeamExtra 300S and Aviation Boeing 757/200 Freighter.
The three yellow and red aircraft formed an aerobatic display. The breathtaking show concluded with a solo demonstration from the DHL757 which ended in a high speed fly past and broke into a climbing line before departing the airfield.
One of the most captivating acts that drew in a crowd came from the death-defying Breitling Wingwalkers which featured team members strapped to the wing of a propeller plane.
The record-breaking display team, the Saudi Hawks, also wowed guests. This team currently holds the Guinness World Record for the largest sky drawing by a jet display team, a 5,287,505sq/m Saudi Arabian emblem created above Riyadh air base almost three years ago.
Spectators filled the grand stand to witness the different acts while others caught a glimpse of the shows from their vehicles parked on nearby sand areas.
Aside from the aerobatic displays there were was a wide variety of on-the-ground attractions and activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Ruhi Menon, a savings and pension executive at Takaud Savings and Pensions, from Tubli, attended the show with her sons Aryan, three and Rayaan, one, and husband Praveen, a transportation specialist.
Mrs Menon said: “The airshow was amazing. It was a shame that we went on the last day which had a lot of show cancellations due to weather conditions. We still enjoyed ourselves and the children loved the entertainment. They really should have more of these types of events. It’s truly a family affair.”
The Menons especially loved the hassle-free parking. Organisers attempted to rid people of last year’s trouble of getting to and from the event by setting up parking at the Bahrain International Circuit. Visitors were then brought to the air base via shuttle buses.
Mrs Menon added: “The shuttle was really well organised and efficient. It didn’t cause any traffic delays. I had to leave early due to work and had no issues getting back to my vehicle.”
The next show is scheduled for 2016.
