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The 10th Al Ain Aerobatic Show witnessed the final aerobatic show performance of the UK’s renowned pilot Jonathon Whaley and his Hunter Hawker aircraft, Miss Demeanour.
Opening the plane’s cockpit, Whaley, also known as ‘Flapjack’, made his final fly-past over the crowds as he waved goodbye and dipped his wings, symbolising his last aerobatic gig in the Oasis City as he heads into semi-retirement.
“This is my third and final time here in Al Ain and the best yet,” said Whaley, the 65-year-old veteran with 43 years of flying experience. “Miss Demeanour’s colour scheme looks the best in two regions - the Swiss Alps and the Al Ain desert. As my last show here, I am trying not to think too much about it because that will take away from the fantastic experience of flying. I want to be able to look back and think that I had a great show.”
Miss Demeanour’s bright colour scheme accentuates her shape and is a work of art which kids at the show absolutely loved.
“Among all pilots, I liked ‘Flapjack’ the best because I could wave out to him when he flew low over the grandstand. And his plane was the most colourful among all the different aircraft I saw. I loved coming to this show and I enjoyed all the rides and games. The best part is I got to take a picture with ‘Flapjack’ which I will remember all my life,” said Daniel Baruch, a seven-year-old student from Dubai who visited the show with his entire family.
Whaley believes Miss Demeanour has a special place in his life and says he has an uncanny connection with the aircraft he has flown for over a decade. He flew with the UK Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm before he moved on to private flying. Whaley has flown all over the world displaying his prowess at aerobatic shows and speaks fondly of Al Ain.
“Bizarrely, it’s the relaxed atmosphere at the Al Ain Aerobatic Show with relatively little pressure, yet being able to display enthusiastically in the wide open space, that makes this show one of my fondest. Flying over the desert is something special and what better way that to say goodbye to the UAE people than on their 42nd National Day,” he added.
Whaley took Miss Demeanour through some special moves this year. Given the airspace, his final manoeuvre was to go vertical from 30 feet until his aircraft was just a speck in the sky, all in a few seconds.
The three-day event saw thousands of visitors from as far as Latin America, Europe and Australia in addition to regional tourists from Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and the GCC countries.
Gold event sponsors of the Al Ain Aerobatic Show 2013 were Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), Etihad Airways, and Huawei, while Silver sponsors included BAE Systems and Abu Dhabi National Hotels. Official vehicle providers were Eastern Motors and Mercedes-Benz, and Abu Dhabi Media was the show’s official media partner.
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