The Al Ain Aerobatic Show took off yesterday in less than ideal flying conditions. High winds and cloudy skies forced some acts to be scaled down or even cancelled, including a performance by last year's crowd favourites, the Saudi Hawks. Despite the adverse conditions, approximately 2,000 people enjoyed a host of other aerobatic and parachuting displays, including a high-risk triple synchronised inverted parachute drop by the Goodyear Eagles team.
"Watching the parachutists drop was very exciting," said Seif al Mutairi, 26, a student from Saudi Arabia. "They came down hard and fast, flying low over us, then turned away at the last minute. I thought they were going to crash into us but they knew what they were doing." Anatoly Tarasenko, 47, a Ukrainian pilot for Air Arabia, added: "I was a little disappointed that the Saudi Hawks did not fly, but it didn't ruin the day for me."
Erik Elbieh, a 14-year-old American student, was attending the annual air show for the fourth time and is competing in a photography competition that carries a Dh7,000 (US$1,900) first prize. "I particularly enjoyed watching the Breitling Jets Team," he said. "The best Al Ain air show was the one in 2005. That year flares were shooting out of jets, there was a greater variety of acts and a performance with Russian MiGs, but this year's show was cool."
The show's organisers are hoping the wind subsides by the weekend, when crowd attendance is usually at its highest. There were approximately 110,000 visitors over the four days of last year's show. According to the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology, the weather over Al Ain today will be partly cloudy, with moderate winds forecast to ease gradually by nightfall. ealghalib@thenational.ae