The DUBAI AIRSHOW, is a biennial event held every odd year somewhere in November.
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| Al Fursan performing with a Emirates A380 in the foreground |
Originally started in 1989 as "Arab Air", it is held under the patronage of HH Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai.
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| First Dubai Airshow in 1989 |
It used to be held at the main Dubai International airport (DXB), but since a few years has moved to the brand-new Dubai World Central airport (DWC) where more space is available.
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| Airbus H160 helicopter |
Dubai Airshow, is not your classic airshow with a lot of aerobatic displays but rather a trade-show like the Paris airshow at Le Bourget or the biennial Farnborough show in the UK. It is one of the shows where airlines often confirm rumoured orders and where aircraft manufactures announce new stuff.
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| Rolls-Royce Trent engine |
This years show had a total of 1103 exhibitors from 61 different countries, with a total of 150 aircraft on display. One can easily spend a few hours in the main exhibition hall.
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| Hazim 15 UAV made in Iran |
The most interesting place for airplane geeks however, is the outside static park where one can pretty much walk freely around the aircraft on display.
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| V-22 Osprey |
If found it quite interesting to find both aircraft from Iran (be it unmanned) and the US, being exhibited together.
Most aircraft can be visited; I personally had a look in the Qatar A350, Airbus A350, Antonov 178 and Bombardier CS100.
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| Qatar A350 Business Class |
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| Airbus A350-900 prototype |
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| Antonov 178 |
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| Bombardier CS100 |
During the afternoon a flying display takes place with a mix of military jets, airliners and training aircraft. Pure airshow acts were somewhat limited the day I was there; the two most interesting ones, being the UAE jet team "Al Fursan" and the Breitling Wingwalkers flying two Boeing Stearman biplanes.
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| Al Fursan and A380 tail |
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| Breitling Wingwalkers |
Airbus, put on another great display by flying their Airbus A350-900. Flying airliners myself for a living, this obviously is close to my heart!
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| Airbus A350-900 |
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| Airbus A350-900 |
This years show was however much quieter than earlier editions; for the first time in a long time, virtually no new aircraft orders from the main three UAE carriers were announced. They were however all present with airliners on the static line; a total of three A380 were there; the new 2 class 615 pax Emirates model, a Qatar and Etihad one.
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| Etihad A380 in the late afternoon sun |
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| Qatar A380 |
After having just ordered 22 Cirrus SR-22 single-engine and 5 Embraer Phenom 100E's, Emirates also announced their new "Emirates Flight Training Academy".
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| Future Emirates Flight Training Academy Cadet ? |
While the Dubai Airshow is limited to trade visitors(you'll need a proof of connection to Aviation), they have also started giving access to the general public; one can now buy a 70AED (20USD) pass to sit on a grandstand overlooking the show. This does NOT give one access to the aircraft and exhibition hall. I personally wouldn't recommend this limited access entry to any serious aviation enthusiast as the grandstand was quite far away from all the action, especially given the flying display was somewhat limited.
I do however recommend going to the Al Ain Airshow, which this year will be held next month December 17 to 19 and which is always a great day out for everybody with an interest in aviation!
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| USAF B-1 Bomber |
For the ones interested, I brought two cameras and a few lenses to the show; the Fujifilm X-T10 with the 10-24 f4 lens and the Fujifilm X-T1 with the 50-140 and the brand-new 1.4x Teleconverter. All images of aircraft in flight have been shot with the 1.4x TC Teleconverter installed.
BJORN
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