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GulfWeekly Reporter Kristian Harrison takes a step down memory lane and still has his head in the clouds
I consider myself privileged that out of any town in the world in which I could have been born and grown up in, I landed in the north-western English paradise of Southport.
Residents, or indeed anyone who has ever been there, may laugh at that proclamation, but our biggest annual event, the Southport Air Show, was a wonderful occasion for any young lad growing up.
Every September, my dad would take me down to the beach and we would watch a plethora of planes, helicopters and other craft display their finery. Chief of all these, and the highlight of the weekend drawing tens of thousands of visitors, was always the Red Arrows.
It’s these nostalgic throwbacks that I miss the most, so it was with much delight that I accepted an invitation to the Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain to watch the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team perform an incredible display. A less glamorous beach location than I’m used to watching them from (OK, that might be stretching it …), but a delight nonetheless!
It’s testament to the amazing performances of these brave daredevils that despite this being the 20th time I’ve seen them, I was stood in as much awe as ever as red, blue and white smoke trails drifted across the sky.
From knots, to pirouettes, to heart shapes, to low fly-overs, the skill of the pilots is unparalleled. The intricacies of each manoeuvre and the synchronisation of the team is spellbinding.
All around, and on the shores of Nurana, Kardabad and Reef Island where people packed the coast to catch a glimpse, there were gasps as the majestic men in their flying machines flew seemingly within inches of each other.
It’s always easy to take things for granted when you’re used to them, so seeing the faces of locals, especially the children, watching something so incredible for the first time was uplifting.
Indeed, the purpose of the visit is not only to celebrate the great relations, now more than 200 years old, between Britain and Bahrain, but also to inspire the younger generation. I’d say that in the space of just 20 minutes, it worked a treat.
AS the Red Arrow pilots were soaring across the skies, a skilled team of female support staff were busy making sure that everything ran smoothly on the ground from administration to servicing the aircraft, writes Mai Al Khatic-Camille.
A group of six, featuring engineers, administrators and photographers, set off with the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team on its Season 2017 tour around the world.
During the stopover in Bahrain, they shared their passion for the task at a breakfast meeting of The Bahrain British Business Forum (BBBF) Special Interest Group ‘Women in at the Diplomat Radisson BLU Hotel, Residence & Spa’s Al Fanar Ballroom.
Flight commander and junior engineering officer Alicia Mason, 36, pictured right, said: “I’m in charge of running a flying programme and making sure that all the aircraft is serviced and maintained. When we land and the pilots jump out to do their briefing, I’m straight out with a tool kit servicing the machines.”
