My look back at the 10th Al Ain Aerobatic Show continues here with Paul Bonhomme and Steve Jones, aka The Matadors.
© Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
Paul Bonhomme and Steve Jones have flown close formation aerobatics together since 1997, though the Matadors’ bloodlines can be traced back a further three years.
© Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
Having started out flying the Sukhoi Su-26M, the team elected to transition to the XtremeAir XA41 (Sbach 300) in 2011 before making the switch to flying the latter exclusively for the 2012 season and beyond.
© Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
Both Paul and Steve are well known for their superb warbird displays, but Paul is perhaps best known with the general public for his involvement with the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, which is due to return in 2014.
© Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
The pair have a ridiculous amount of flying experience between them covering everything from banner towing through to the captaining of the Boeing 747, with just about everything you could imagine in between, and the class really does shine through when you see them display.
© Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
The esteem in which they’re held by their peers speaks volumes too.
© Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
When they were not wowing the crowds on the show days, they found some time to star in this nice little video:
Coming next time, the United Arab Emirates Air Force & Air Defence Lockheed Martin F-16E Desert Falcon solo display.
