The sky above Abu Dhabi was painted red, white and blue on Tuesday afternoon as the famous Red Arrows roared overhead.
The team, which serves as the UK’s Royal Airforce Aerobatic Team, wowed crowds gathered outside the Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi hotel resort.
Spectators were treated to a spectacular display of aerobatics with the six planes pulling off a series of manoeuvres with formidable names such as The Detonator, The Python, Blowback and The Crossbow.
Wing Commander David Montenegro spoke to The National about why the illustrious team of crack pilots was in the UAE capital.
“We’re here today to reinforce and celebrate the special relationship between the UAE and the UK,” he said.
“This is part of a wider GCC tour and over the next five weeks we’ll be doing fly-pasts in different countries in the region.”
While the display was a success, it did not come without challenges as Wg Cdr Montenegro explained.
“The hotel stands at around 450 feet, it’s impressive but as a centrepoint to a flight display it’s enormous, which makes it a very unique task,” he said.
“All the manoeuvres you saw today took about four to five months to perfect. They were each practised about 50 times at least.”
Red Arrows' pilots are no strangers to the UAE, having performed an acclaimed fly-past over Expo 2020 Dubai only last year.
The group’s familiarity with the UAE was not lost on Wg Cdr Montenegro.
“We’re used to the Dubai Airshow, as it’s something we have been to many times,” he said.
“It’s very common for us to be here and in some ways it feels like coming home because we are so used to the skies here.
“We always get such a warm reception here.”
Abu Dhabi is not their only stop in the UAE. On Monday afternoon, the Red Arrows hosted a STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — workshop for students at Heriot-Watt University Dubai.
“Inspiring young people to learn more about the STEM subjects and what teamwork can achieve is a core aim of the Red Arrows,” said Tom Bould, team leader of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team.
“This fantastic session in Dubai was a great way of showcasing STEM in action, highlighting how these topics are used throughout the Red Arrows’ work and using aviation to encourage more individuals to discover their future career.”
It was also confirmed that an Emirates A380 would perform a fly-past with the team in Dubai on Thursday.
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
Napoleon
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'Avengers: Infinity War'
Dir: The Russo Brothers
Starring: Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Junior, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen
Four stars
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
The biog
Title: General Practitioner with a speciality in cardiology
Previous jobs: Worked in well-known hospitals Jaslok and Breach Candy in Mumbai, India
Education: Medical degree from the Government Medical College in Nagpur
How it all began: opened his first clinic in Ajman in 1993
Family: a 90-year-old mother, wife and two daughters
Remembers a time when medicines from India were purchased per kilo
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Brief scores:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
