In my concluding 10th Al Ain Aerobatic Show blog, I’ll take a look at the remaining participants that are still to appear.
Paul Stender – Indy Boys Inc – “School Time” Jet School Bus
This ‘act’ was unquestionably worthy of its own entry, however, since we’re an aviation website and given that the vehicle remained rooted to the ground (thankfully!) at all times, I include it here instead.
© Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
I’m sure plenty of you will have seen the footage on YouTube (I know it’s been shared extensively on Facebook) of Paul Stender in the Indy Boys Inc jet-powered school bus, but in case you’ve missed it, you’ll find it below. Believe me, you need to see (and hear) it!
Fitted with a J-79 engine from a McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom, Paul estimates that only around 10% of the original bus exists today. He even had to cut out a section straight down the middle to get it to fit into the shipping container used to transport it to the show!
© Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
Paul also owns a jet-powered toilet, capable of achieving 70mph!!
© Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
I know it was an AIR show, but you’d be hard pushed to find too many attendees for whom the jet bus was not the highlight!
Zoltan Veres – Giles 202
Bringing the curtain down on the Saturday and Sunday shows was Hungarian aerobatic maestro Zoltan Veres in his Ward Brad Giles 202, N202EW, which I’m fairly sure was the first time I’d seen an example of the type.
© Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
Unfortunately, other commitments meant I missed his Saturday display, but I caught his Sunday routine in full.
© Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
With a combination of LEDs, smoke system and lasers fitted to the aircraft, Zoltan’s routine was quite lyrical, and the lasers in particular added something rather different to the display.
With no UAEAF & AD participation, or Zoltan Veres, for Monday’s show on account of them performing in Dubai for the 42nd National Day, there were a few different items on the programme to the preceding two days.
Horizon Flight Academy – 7x Bell 407
No less than seven Bell 407 helicopters from the resident Horizon Flight Academy performed a formation flypast, before positioning into the hover in front of the crowd. Whilst it wasn’t especially dynamic, it was nice to see these pseudo-military helicopters, with each adorned with the name of one of the seven Emirates that comprise the UAE.
© Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
Etihad Airways – Airbus A330-243
The final aerial participant was provided courtesy of show sponsor Etihad. Unlike in 2011 when the airline’s Formula 1-schemed Airbus A340-642 performed a flypast, this time it was the turn of an Airbus A330-243, which flew past the crowd twice before returning to Abu Dhabi.
© Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
helidubai – AS350
Finally, not a participant but present from the day prior to the show through to its conclusion, was helidubai AS350 A6-WSL, which had been used to provide the HD aerial footage of the show.
© Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
Huawei Twister Duo
And, of course, one act that hasn’t featured in this BlogGAR series is the Huawei Twister Duo. Â Why have they not appeared here, I hear you ask? Â Because they had their own article in Issue 21 of Global Aviation Magazine!
© Karl Drage – www.globalaviationresource.com
Hand on heart, I have to say that I absolutely loved the 10th Al Ain Aerobatic Show. I hope you’ve enjoyed the pictures.
I’ve really enjoyed reading all of the reports Karl, it was an enjoyable event and comes across as a great spectacle through your photography and I’m sure it has increased the shows exposure a great deal. Dave
Thanks very much, Dave. Thanks also for all your assistance along the way!
Cheers,
Karl