Dubai Airshow 2021

Discussion relating to 2021 airshows/fly-ins/exercises/other events. Post news before the event and post your photos afterwards! Please create only one thread per event.

FlyRed
Posts: 192
Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2017 10:37 pm

Post by FlyRed » Sun Nov 14, 2021 10:54 pm

Incredible first day at the Dubai Airshow.

Started with a demonstration flight on the Honeywell B757 test aircraft for a demonstration of JetWave and Aspire SATCOM products.

The opening UAE Formation featured airliners from Etihad (787-10), Emirates (A380 'Dubai Expo') and Air Arabia as well as UAE military helicopter, fighters, heavies and a lot of flares. This display is not on the flying schedule for Day 2 but hopefully it will be seen again during the week.

The Boeing 777X made its first international appearance and it was followed later by the A350-900. It was amazing to watch these large airliners show off their climbing and turning capabilities.

The Russian Knights and Saudi Hawks flew, as well as UAE single ship displays from the F-16 and Mirage 2000. Unfortunately, the display Rafale from the Armee de L'air isn't the specially painted blue design but the pilot put on an amazing routine. The same cannot be said about the Indian Tejas which could have used a little more enthusiasm.

The ramp is packed with a ton of hardware and the weather and lighting are perfect. Very cool way to end a very enjoyable air show season.

For more images please visit my instagram for regular posts through the week.
Attachments
3CA DSC_5896-01.jpg
3CA DSC_5896-01.jpg (185.92 KiB) Viewed 8389 times
3CA DSC_5919.jpg
3CA DSC_5919.jpg (247.6 KiB) Viewed 8389 times
3CA _82A9154.jpg
3CA _82A9154.jpg (49.75 KiB) Viewed 8389 times
3 x

FlyRed
Posts: 192
Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2017 10:37 pm

Post by FlyRed » Sun Nov 14, 2021 10:55 pm

Russian Knights and Saudi Hawks
Attachments
3CA _82A9813.jpg
3CA _82A9813.jpg (99.53 KiB) Viewed 8389 times
3CA _82A1138.jpg
3CA _82A1138.jpg (101.21 KiB) Viewed 8389 times
2 x

FlyRed
Posts: 192
Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2017 10:37 pm

Post by FlyRed » Sun Nov 14, 2021 10:56 pm

Boeing vs Airbus (Go Airbus!)
Attachments
3CA _82A0030.jpg
3CA _82A0030.jpg (111.94 KiB) Viewed 8389 times
3CA _82A0577.jpg
3CA _82A0577.jpg (143.35 KiB) Viewed 8389 times
1 x

User avatar
Adam
Posts: 1051
Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2017 11:04 am
Location: Kent, UK
Contact:

Post by Adam » Mon Nov 15, 2021 8:43 am

I look forward to hearing an honest, informed opinion on Surya Kiran. Them not having left India/Sri Lanka since upgrading to the Hawk, so far all I've seen is "dazzling air acrobatics by daring sky warriors" type quotes in the local press. I suspect the reality is less than impressive but I will be interested to hear more.
0 x
Freelance airshow media and videography (thisisflight.net)
Producer with PlanesTV
Airshow commentator

FlyRed
Posts: 192
Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2017 10:37 pm

Post by FlyRed » Mon Nov 15, 2021 2:08 pm

Adam wrote: Mon Nov 15, 2021 8:43 am I look forward to hearing an honest, informed opinion on Surya Kiran. Them not having left India/Sri Lanka since upgrading to the Hawk, so far all I've seen is "dazzling air acrobatics by daring sky warriors" type quotes in the local press. I suspect the reality is less than impressive but I will be interested to hear more.
Surya Kiran was good, but unfortunately, nothing too special. Of the 3 teams that have performed so far I prefer either the Russian Knights or the Saudi Hawks. Having said that it was nice to see their 9 jet formations.

Some other highlights from the day included a sandstorm, albeit a very small one but something that is definitely not part of North American or European events. The winds may have also prevented any flares today, as the Russian Knights used them yesterday and flew the same show.

Demo of the day was once again the Rafale, which flew instead of the scheduled Mirage. There were also 2 F-16 displays and it really highlighted the flaws in North American style routines. The UAE '16 remained in front of the crowd throughout it's performance, whereas the PACAF F-16 spent more time repositioning than presenting.

Other interesting performers included the Leonardo AW609 tilt-rotor and the Kawasaki C-2.
Attachments
3CA 20211115060340__82A1192-01.jpg
3CA 20211115060340__82A1192-01.jpg (117.21 KiB) Viewed 8332 times
3CA 20211115083804__82A2511-01.jpg
3CA 20211115083804__82A2511-01.jpg (144.4 KiB) Viewed 8332 times
3CA 20211115080356__82A2070-01.jpg
3CA 20211115080356__82A2070-01.jpg (86.34 KiB) Viewed 8332 times
3CA 20211115082634__82A2333-01.jpg
3CA 20211115082634__82A2333-01.jpg (82.71 KiB) Viewed 8332 times
3 x


User avatar
Adam
Posts: 1051
Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2017 11:04 am
Location: Kent, UK
Contact:

Post by Adam » Mon Nov 15, 2021 5:40 pm

FlyRed wrote: Mon Nov 15, 2021 2:08 pm Surya Kiran was good, but unfortunately, nothing too special. Of the 3 teams that have performed so far I prefer either the Russian Knights or the Saudi Hawks. Having said that it was nice to see their 9 jet formations.
This is interesting to hear. I hope there will be more chances to see them abroad, now they've got settled with the Hawk. I was almost tempted to book myself a trip when they were announced, just out of curiosity, but ultimately I decided I'd done enough pandemic travelling, passenger locator forms and PCR tests for a lifetime. Last time I went to Dubai I was barred from boarding the flight home because my test result didn't meet the airline's criteria, even though it was UAE government-administered! So I didn't fancy a repeat... Beware of that.

Regarding your earlier post about whether the UAE formation would make a comeback later in the week, they do that every show but only ever on day 1. A one-off set piece display by the "home team" to open the event was quite common at the shows I did when I lived in Asia. Langkawi, Aero India and Zhengzhou all do something similar, and probably some others too. Hopefully you get to see Al Fursan's full display at some point as they are excellent, truly up there with the best.

Please do keep your shots coming! A very nice distraction for someone stuck in miserable, wet Britain as the winter nights draw in.
0 x
Freelance airshow media and videography (thisisflight.net)
Producer with PlanesTV
Airshow commentator

User avatar
Adam
Posts: 1051
Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2017 11:04 am
Location: Kent, UK
Contact:

Post by Adam » Mon Nov 15, 2021 5:47 pm

Oh and for those interested in the trade side, I've got an order counter running which is an easy place to see every order in one place. At the end of day 2, the order tally on the commercial side is:
Airbus - 366 (plus at least 94 options)
Boeing - 22
ATR - 12 (plus 1 option)
Embraer - 3 (plus 3 options)
http://thisisflight.net/2021/11/15/duba ... r-tracker/
Last edited by Adam on Mon Nov 15, 2021 5:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
0 x
Freelance airshow media and videography (thisisflight.net)
Producer with PlanesTV
Airshow commentator

FlyRed
Posts: 192
Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2017 10:37 pm

Post by FlyRed » Mon Nov 15, 2021 11:26 pm

Adam, Al Fursan is closing Day 3. In fact, day 3 may have the strongest lineup so far.

There will be a lot more images, thank you for your interest.

GO AIRBUS!
2 x

Post Reply

Return to “2021 Airshows/Fly-Ins/Exercises/Events - Discussion and Photos”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 30 guests