Khor show passes with flying colours

By  Aney Mathew/Al KhorSkydive parachuting by members of the Qatar military, aerobatic flying by reigning World Aerobatic champion Tamas Nadas and a flight demonstration using powered parachutes were among the highlights of the seventh edition of Al Khor Fly-In. The two-day event which concluded successfully yesterday, also included fun plane rides for visitors and the opportunity to take a closer look at the many light aircraft that were on display for the occasion.The fun event, which attracted several spectators and aviation enthusiasts - some of whom had flown in from neighbouring GCC countries, was set in motion by the Director of Civil Aviation, Abdul Aziz al-Naimi.Addressing the gathering, al-Naimi said: “Through this event, we aim to spread the culture of aviation and define its components within an educational environment, while incorporating fun and social interaction. We are aware of the vital role of the aviation sector in promoting the economy of Qatar. The Civil Aviation Authority seeks to fully support the event financially and logistically in order to motivate young people, in the area of aviation and to educate them on modern technical concepts in this field”. Speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines al-Naimi expressed his appreciation for the organisers and hosts of the show. “I am well impressed with the quality and success of the event. There is no commercial activity involved in this show. It is completely the result of self motivated people who serve voluntarily in response to their love for flying. This annual event is gaining popularity and the number of visitors and guests have doubled.” The skydive parachuting demonstration on the first day by the Qatari military was received with excitement as visitors watched Qatar’s award-winning team, as they displayed various feats including the downplane and canopy skydiving.“This is the team that represents Qatar for competitions locally and at international levels. Our team won the first place for canopy formation at the Asiana competition in China earlier and we are just back from another successful event in Dubai. We had about 17 of our trained personnel participate in this display,” explained Isam Elsayed Technical Director and Team Manager.Sheikh Mohamed al-Mualla from the UAE was among the handful of participants who took part in the skydive parachuting, in addition to the Qatar military team. Expressing his keen interest in flying, he said: “I flew into Qatar in my helicopter in what was a 95-minute flight. This is my second time participating in the Al Khor Fly-In. I enjoy participating in this event.”Another round of excitement the spectators enjoyed on the first day was an amazing aerobatic display by reigning World Aerobatic Champion – Captain Tamas Nadas from Hungary. In a 15-minute fascinating display, the champion twirled, twisted, spun, nosedived and manoeuvred his aircraft skilfully, keeping the crowd mesmerised.