Category: Airshows

Today Dubai Air Show 2007, the biggest aviation show in the Middle East, opened at Dubai International Airport, UAE. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this years edition is the largest so far, with participation of 850 exhibitors from 50 countries and over 140 aircrafts on display.
Exhibitors are showcasing the latest civil, military and transport aircrafts as well as state-of-the-art air defence systems and equipment at the event that will run from 11 – 15 November.

This year’s static display will boast its largest ever aircraft showing including regional debuts from, the Cirrus SR22 G3 – the world’s fastest-selling, single-engined four-seater aircraft; the Eclipse 500, the forerunner in the Very Light Jet (VLJ) market and the quietest jet in history; the Dassault Falcon 7X, which is the original ‘fly-by-wire’ long range business jet claiming to be the “first aircraft to be designed entirely on a virtual platform”, and the Sino Swearingen SJ30, the world’s fastest longest range light jet.

The Russian MIG 29 multi-role fighter aircraft and the block 60 Lockheed Martin F-16, one of the most popular attack aircraft in its class, will also take to the skies during the show’s daily flying display as will the Airbus A380, adorned in the company’s livery as it makes its return to the UAE.

And to celebrate the Dubai Airshow’s 10th Anniversary, which expects up to 40,000 visitors, this year’s flying display will feature performances by three of the world’s top aerobatics display team – Britain’s Red Arrows flying the BAE Systems’ training Hawk, the Patrouille de France in the Dassault/ Dornier AlphaJet, and Spain’s Patrulla Aguila, which is making its Arabian Gulf debut in the Casa C-101 Aviojet.

“The aircraft fleet we will have on display is unparalleled regionally or internationally and is testament to both the reputation of the Dubai Airshow and the importance of the Middle East to the global aviation market. It includes some of the world’s most advanced, state-of-the-art aircraft, many of which are touching down here for the very first time,” said Alison Weller, Director-Aerospace, Fairs & Exhibitions – which organises the show.

“The wide diversity of aircraft shows the depth and breadth of our exhibitor portfolio and we know visitors to the Dubai Airshow will be in for a major treat as they will see first hand the very best the industry has to offer.”

Helicopters also feature heavily in the 2007 showing with the MD 902 Helicopter making its regional exhibition debut. Boasting state-of-the-art patented “NOTAR” (No Tail Rotor) technology, which increases passenger and bystander safety, reduces pilot workload and lowers external noise levels, the MD is a sought after model for EMS services throughout the region, especially as it is well equipped to deal with the Middle East’s high temperatures.

And joining military heavyweights MiG and the F-16, is the USAF’s legendary fighter, the F-117A Nighthawk Stealth Fighter attack, the world’s first operational stealth aircraft, as well as Abu Dhabi-based Adcom Military Industries, which is displaying its Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Yabhon range including the new jet-powered, high-speed diving target drone, designated the ‘Yabhon HMD’.

Link: http://www.dubaiairshow.org

Famous American aerobatics pilot – Jim LeRoy – died after a crash at the Vectren Dayton Air Show on Saturday.

LeRoy died while en route to Miami Valley Hospital in a Black Hawk helicopter, according to Dayton’s Director of Aviation Iftikhar Ahmad. Mark Carpenter, fire chief at Dayton International Airport, said the pilot died before he arrived at Miami Valley Hospital.

According to Carpenter, LeRoy’s plane was performing a stunt when he hit the ground and slid about 300 yards and burst into flames. Fire trucks were at the accident within one minute and the fire was quickly extinguished, Carpenter said. But, based on the timestamp from the digital camera of a Dayon Daily News photographer, it took two-and a-half minutes.

“We cut Mr. LeRoy out of the aircraft,” Carpenter said. The crash occurred around 2:30 p.m.

Eye witnesses said: “It came down and didn’t have enough room. The ground came up,” – “I heard it crunch, hard. Some pieces came off.” – “It slid a long way, it skidded,” – “There was a fire. The fire trucks put it out … he must have been burned pretty bad.”

The air show was canceled for the rest of Saturday. The air show will continue as scheduled on Sunday, said Michael Emoff, chairman of the board of trustees of the United States Air & Trade Show.

Tickets and wristbands from Saturday’s air show will be honored on Sunday.

Black smoke and flames could be seen by the crowd across the field from the crash site at Dayton International Airport. LeRoy was in a Bulldog Pitts plane that was part of an aerobatics show called Code Name Mary’s Lamb. The crash was during LeRoy’s second performance on Saturday.

There were two stunt planes flying, doing loops and flying upside down. One plane swooped toward the ground and crashed.

The crowd fell silent. The announcer asked the crowd to turn in any video that may have recorded the crash to make it available for an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

LeRoy, a former US Marine Corps Scout/Sniper, held a B.S. degree in Aeronautical/Aerospace engineering as well as an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license.

LeRoy was one of only eleven pilots ever to be awarded both the Art Sholl Showmanship Award (2002) and the Bill Barber Award for Showmanship (2003). He was also one of only a handful of full time air show pilots in the world who actually made his living by performing for air show audiences.

Initially flying solo performances, he gained a reputation with his highly energetic aerobatic displays. In 2003, LeRoy joined a daring and successful airshow troupe, the X-team, that referred to themselves as the Masters of Disaster. Their performance generally consisted of three pilots flying a simultaneous, chaotic, interweaving aerobatic display through clouds of smoke generated by circling jet powered trucks below. After two seasons of successful airshows, an accident occured on July 10, 2005 during a routine performance when Jimmy Franklin and Bobby Younkin collided in mid-air. Jim LeRoy was not involved in the collision and landed safely.

LeRoy also held the following pilot ratings: single-engine, multi-engine, airplane instructor, helicopter, helicopter instructor, instrument instructor and aerobatic competency evaluator.

Diagram how this crash happened:
http://www.daytondailynews.com/m/content/oh/media/news/local/airshowcrash.html
Pictures of the crash:
http://www.daytondailynews.com/p/content/gen/sharedoh/photos_galleries/ne…
Video of the crash:

Source: http://www.daytondailynews.com/