Members of the British Royal Air Force’s globally-acclaimed aerobatic team have landed in Bahrain and are gearing up for their first-ever appearance at the Bahrain International Airshow (BIA) ... and taking to the air for the first public display since the death of the British monarch.
The Red Arrows, flying distinctive Hawk jets, will be displaying a ‘Jubilee Present’ formation – originally developed to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II - for the first time in Bahrain’s skies, as an homage to the British sovereign who passed away on September 8.
“The Red Arrows flew over Buckingham Palace almost every year for Her Majesty’s birthday and we developed the ‘Jubilee Present’ in honour of her Platinum Jubilee,” the team’s senior representative, Wing Commander David Montenegro, told the GDN on the side-lines of a media conference highlighting the team’s five-week programme of activities in the region.
“When the Queen passed away, we cancelled the two remaining shows of our tour commemorating her Platinum Jubilee. This is the first time, since then, that we will be performing it at a public display.”
In addition to their distinctive red, white and blue flying acrobatics at the BIA, taking place once daily on November 9, 10 and 11, the Red Arrows are all set for a five-week promotional programme in the region, including trips to two of Bahrain’s educational institutions, as well as the squad’s first visit to Egypt in 20 years.
The airshow appearance follows the launch of trade talks in June between the UK and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) covering £33.1 billion (BD14.4 billion) of bilateral trade.
“This visit further enhances the close and important relationship shared by the UK and Bahrain,” British ambassador Roddy Drummond added.
“We’re not only looking forward to their amazing aerial displays but also their engagement in several business events and attending schools and universities to promote the importance of science, technology, engineering and maths.”
The Red Arrows arrived this week, in tow with nine planes including a spare aircraft, as well as a 100-strong team, including pilots, engineers, logisticians and support staff.
The aerial displays will be comprised of 21 manoeuvres, including the Phoenix Roll, Detonator and the Corkscrew, each featuring plumes of accompanying red, white and blue smoke.
Although many spectators believe the smoke is purely aesthetic, Mr Montenegro was quick to emphasise that it also helps the pilots coordinate their movements and line up their flight paths, with the planes sometimes flying as close as 1.83m to each other in the air.
Squadron Leader Tom Bould will be leading the team during the show and coordinating all aspects of the display.
“Before joining the Red Arrows, I flew the Typhoon aircraft, in which there are a number of very smart computers which translate a pilot’s instructions about flying into system adjustments within the plane to make it achieve those objectives, but with the Hawk, the throttle and the steering wheel make direct immediate changes to the flight with instant feedback – it’s the difference between driving a Formula 1 car and a vintage race car!” explained Mr Bould.
The BIA, held every two years under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad, is commemorating its 10th anniversary this year, under the supervision of His Highness Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Personal Representative of His Majesty the King and the Chairman of the BIAS’ Supreme Organising Committee
The event is being organised by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (MTT) and the Royal Bahraini Airforce, in cooperation with Farnborough International.
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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