Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Thousands of aviation fans flocked to the Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) to witness thrilling aerobatic displays, tour an array of winged and bladed aircraft and to see business partnerships take-off.
They were rewarded with a memorable experience which truly lit up the faces of both the young and the old in the crowd as they stared skywards when not busy strolling around the many aviation exhibits on site.
The Sakhir Airbase was a hotbed of activity, but even the surrounding area was punctuated with onlookers as cars were perched on sand dunes and verges as locals scrambled to get a look at the action.
Inside the airbase, there were sections accommodating all types of guest. I took a quick jaunt to the Media Centre to pick up an itinerary for the day’s displays whilst also ducking my head into a press conference announcing that the Italian Air Force aerobatic team ‘Frecce Tricolori’ would be performing for the first time ever in the kingdom later that day to celebrate the ties between Bahrain and Italy.
However, it was roaring engines I wanted to hear, not voices, so I went out onto the airfield and started walking up and down the 15 pads which housed a variety of aircraft.
Starting at the far end, I had a look around the DHL-branded Boeing 767 and learned how the logistics giant with a big regional base in Bahrain loaded its planes with freight and goods, before moving along to the Gulf Air display and heard the engines of the company’s jewel, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, growl into life.
Most impressive of all, at least in terms of size, was the Emirates Airbus A380. This was an absolute monster, a double-decker and the world’s largest passenger airliner.
The A380 carried the distinctive decal of late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, to celebrate the fact that it was the 100th A380 in the Emirates fleet.
Best of all, this was open to the public, so I got to witness the interior’s 14 luxurious First Class Suites, 76 flatbed seats in Business Class, and 429 seats in Economy Class, as well as the newly-refreshed on board lounge, for myself.
Moving on from the larger airliners, and sidling past the trade hangar packed with exhibitors from across the globe, it was time for the private jets, military fighters and operations helicopters. There were the Russian Knights, Eurofighter Typhoons, F16 and F15 jets, plus Black Hawk helicopter and a Harrier.
Plenty of military personnel, namely United States Navy and Air Force troops who were pilots, engineers or crewmen, were on hand to discuss the finer details of the craft and how they were used during operations.
I even got to sit in the pilot seat of a helicopter and have a tour of its cargo hold.
The best aspect of the show is, of course, the displays, and we weren’t disappointed. From the fly pasts of the DHL and Gulf Air airliners to the BDF parachute drop and the RAF Typhoon, it was amazing to see these glorious flying machines glide and swoop through the air.
The best was saved for last though, with a spectacular double-header. Firstly, the Al Fursan Stunt Team from the UAE put on an incredible performance filled with flips, rolls, hearts and coloured smoke as they gave the Red Arrows a run for their money as the best aerobatic display I’ve ever witnessed.
They were equalled by Global Stars, who performed at twilight with a mixture of fireworks and sparks to light up the dusky sky and send everyone home happy.
I’m already excited about seeing them again in 2020!
