Dubai Airshow: Formation flying, military aircraft mesmerize audience

DUBAI: Geared to become the biggest iteration to date, Dubai Airshow 2017 kicked off here early Sunday morning, opening its doors to trade visitors at the Dubai World Central (DWC).

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum — the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who also rules the Emirate of Dubai — inaugurated the 15th edition of the event at Al Maktoum International Airport in DWC.

Pakistan's Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain was also present at Dubai Airshow 2017.

The biennial event featured over 1,200 exhibitors — of which almost 100 took part for the first time — and more than 160 aircraft were put on display.

What's on display?

Several aircrafts took to the skies in the afternoon session, mesmerizing the audience with their aerobatics and formation flying. This is set to continue every day at 2 PM, ending on Thursday.

Pakistan’s pilots have always shown their aerobatic skills in Dubai Airshow and did so again today.

A contingent of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is also participating in the airshow, alongside the JF17 Thunder and Super Mushak aircraft.

On the show's first day, PAF pilot Wing Commander Yasir Mudassir flew a JF17 Thunder in a remarkable display of his aerobatic skills.

In addition to PAF, the flying display will comprise PLAAF Air Demonstration Team from China; the Russian Knights, and the UAE’s Al Fursan.

Also taking to the skies will be an Airbus A350 and a Beriev BE200 ES, to demonstrate their firefighting abilities.

Helicopters are yet another attraction. The TAI T129 attack helicopter will partake for the first time at the Dubai Airshow, this year, and a large number of military aircraft — such as a US Airforce F16, UAE Mirage 2000, and a Taqnia AN132 — will also be on the display.

Pakistan and JF-17

Speaking to Geo News, Hussain said Pakistan owns a fleet of the state-of-the-art JF-17 Thunder aircraft, which boosts all specifications of any advanced fighter jet.

The JF-17 aircraft's capabilities were not any less than that of a US F-16, effectively meeting Pakistan's defence requirements, the Defence Production minister added.

Hussain visited Pakistan's pavilion — which was shining with the nation's green flag — and met with various delegates related to the defence industry.

Earlier, Air Commodore Muhammad Akhtar told Geo News that PAF has close relations with the UAE ever since its creation.

“PAF has been training the pilots of the United Arab Emirates,” he stated, adding that Dubai Airshow is one of the biggest airshows of the aviation industry.

It is pertinent to note that exhibitors will be representing the entire spectrum of the aerospace industry

Business Deal of the Show

Boeing — a leading commercial jetliner manufacturer — and the Middle East's biggest airline Emirates in a joint statement announced a $15.1-billion deal (at current list price), wherein the latter will purchase 40 787-10 Dreamliners from the former.

According to the United States Department of Commerce, a deal of this size has the potential to support at least 75,000 direct and indirect jobs in America.

Orders for the transaction agreed upon today will be delivered from 2022 well into the 2030s.

Biggest airshow to date

At the biennial show's inauguration, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum — Dubai's Crown Prince and chairman of the Executive Council — accompanied Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MbZ) — the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and UAE Armed Forces' Deputy Supreme Commander — and UAE Head of State for National Security Advisor Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan also attended the show on the first day.

The five-day airshow — open only for trade visitors only — will carry on daily from 10 AM to 5.30 PM during the week and is expected to attract 72,500 visitors — a significant rise this year as opposed to almost 66,500 in 2015 and making it the biggest yet in terms of aircraft displays and the number of exhibitors and visitors.

Dubai Airshow 2017 will conclude on November 16.