World's oldest plane returns to the Middle East after 96 years |
|
Network this!
Century old Belriot XI woos spectators at Al Ain Int' Championship
Al Ain, UAE. 24th January 2008: Spectators at the largest ever Al Ain International Aerobatics Championship - the curtain raiser to the global air sports calendar - witnessed a piece of aviation history today as the world's oldest plane - the 100 year old Belriot XI - returned to the Middle East's cascading dunes after a hiatus of nearly a century.
Since taking to the skies of Libya back in 1912, the Belriot XI, has continued to make aviation history. Gaining immortality on July 25th 1909, the Bleriot XI aircraft crossed the English Channel from Calais to Dover in just 36 and half minutes, and followed this up four years later as it performed the first flying loop - giving birth to the sport of aerobatics.
"The Al Ain International Aerobatics Championship is a breathtaking display of modern aircraft being taken to the limit in awe-inspiring stunts. The Belriot XI pioneered this entire scene nearly a century ago, and is great to be able to fly this piece of aviation history here in Al Ain and show everyone how we got to where we are today with the modern aircraft on display," said Swedish pilot, Mikael Carlson - who discovered the aircraft abandoned in a barn and renovated it to its full flying prowess in 1991.
The aircraft, which will be flying throughout the Championship till its conclusion on Sunday, had to use a specially cleared 200 metre desert runway to take off and land, as the wheels aren't designed for a concrete surface - as it wasn't a factor in 1910.
Jointly organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)
and the UAE Air Force and Air Defence, and in conjunction with the World Air Sports Federation, the 2008 show, which is being held under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, will see over 110 aircraft compete in the four-day family extravaganza.
-Ends-
© Press Release 2008
Comment on this article 
Loading ...-
Zawya encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You agree that when you add content to this discussion your comments will not:
1.1 Contain any material which is libelous or defamatory of any person, is obscene, offensive, hateful or inflammatory or causes damage to the reputation of any person or organisation.
1.2 Promote sexually explicit material, violence, discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age or any illegal activity.
1.3 Be made in breach of any legal duty owed to a third party, such as a contractual duty or a duty of confidence.
1.4 Be threatening, abuse or invade another's privacy, or cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety.
1.5 Be used to impersonate any person, to misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person, or be likely to deceive any person.
1.6 Give the impression that they represent Zawya.
1.7 Advocate, promote or assist any unlawful act such as (by way of example only) copyright infringement or computer misuse. - The content posted on www.zawya.com is created by members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of Zawya. Zawya reserves the right to review all comments prior to posting and edit or delete any contribution, but Zawya is not responsible for and can not be held liable for any content posted by members of the public on www.zawya.com.
- Zawya is not responsible for the availability or content of any third party sites that are accessible through www.zawya.com. Any links to third party websites from www.zawya.com do not amount to any endorsement of that site by Zawya and any use of that site by you is at your own risk.
- By submitting your comment, you hereby give Zawya the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comments worldwide, in perpetuity.
from issuers in both public and private sectors. It is not an e-tendering service and is entirely FREE.
As an Issuer, you can benefit from posting an unlimited number of Tender
Notices for FREE and reaching out to an online community of bidders.
The service also offers you a tool to track the interest of bidders to your
tenders 'live' online.
| Tender Notice | Due Date |
Stories
Companies
| Company Name | Country | Industry |
| Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company | Qatar | Landlords and Developers |
| Saudi Binladin Group | Saudi Arabia | Construction and Design |
| Consolidated Contractors Company | Overseas | Construction and Design |
| Saudi Telecom | Saudi Arabia | Telecommunications Services |
| Saudi Electricity Company | Saudi Arabia | Electric Utilities |
| Investment Corporation of Dubai | UAE | Investment Firms and Funds |
| Presidential Flight | UAE | Transportation Services |
| Emirates Airline | UAE | Transportation Services |
| Almarai Company | Saudi Arabia | Food |
| Alokozay Group of Companies | UAE | Multi-line |
Projects
| Project Name | Country | Sector |
| Takreer - Ruwais Refinery Expansion | UAE | Oil and Gas |
| ENEC - Nuclear Power Plant | UAE | Power and Water |
| Emirates Aluminium (EMAL) - Smelter Complex - Phase 1 | UAE | Industry |
| SATORP - Jubail Refinery and Petrochemical Complex | Saudi Arabia | Oil and Gas |
| Dubai RTA - Dubai Metro | UAE | Infrastructure |
| ADNOC/ConocoPhillips - Sour Gas Fields Development - Shah Field | UAE | Oil and Gas |
| Qatar Foundation - Sidra Medical and Research Center | Qatar | Real Estate |
| SATORP- Jubail Refinery and Petrochemical Complex - Conversion Unit and Sulphur Package (Part 2) | Saudi Arabia | Oil and Gas |
| Abu Dhabi DOT - Abu Dhabi Metro | UAE | Infrastructure |
| Takreer - Ruwais Refinery Expansion - Offsites and Utilities Package | UAE | Oil and Gas |