Abu Dhabi: Flying in close formation and performing a series of thrilling aerobatic moves that broke the sound barrier, the UK’s Red Arrows Aerobatic Display Team provided quite a spectacle over the Abu Dhabi’s Corniche on Thursday.
Currently touring the UAE as part of their Far East and Gulf Tour — their largest overseas tour in over a decade — the Red Arrows, numbering nine jets, carried out a number of breathtaking displays such as the “heart and spear” and the “corkscrew” which at times had the audience on the edge as the jets had to perfectly time their moves and distances from each other.
Praveen Nagrani, who came to the Corniche to catch the display, said he felt like he was watching a film.
“I love these air shows. A few years back, I went to the Al Ain Air Show and I have really been fascinated ever since. It’s very exciting watching them soar high in the sky and performing so many spectacular moves; the amount of training and precision that has to go into carrying these shows out is really impressive.
“It really does feel like you are watching something from a film, but it’s all real and so you can only admire what you are seeing, it’s brilliant.”
Chatelle Gopiteo, who has been living in Abu Dhabi only for the last three weeks, was also awed by what she saw.
“I came to the Corniche because I heard that the Red Arrows were going to perform here, and since I never saw an air show before, I really wanted to come down and watch it for myself.
“I feel very excited when watching the jets roaring in the sky, the sound they make is very loud and strong, it’s not a sound you hear everyday and it takes your breath away.”
Rashid Abasi was just visiting the Corniche for his usual afternoon stroll when he saw the aerobatic show in the Abu Dhabi skies.
“I was not expecting this at all, I was just taking a normal walk and then in the distance I saw and heard a group of jets flying through the sky and I was amazed by what was happening.
“This was my first opportunity to catch something like this and I would say that everybody needs to watch such an air show once in their life. The aerobatic moves they made were very professional and they must have trained very hard to be able to pull these moves off without any glitches. The pilots have my full respect.”
