January 2008 AL AIN AEROBATICS SHOW ~ an international event in the UAE

Traveling almost halfway around the world to perform in an airshow is truly a most unique experience. But sending your beloved airplane over there in a shipping box is a stressful one.

That’s what Skip Stewart, Michael Watson, Darrel Zeck, Chris Rudd and myself did between January 17th and February 1st. Representing the USA in a gathering of aviators from all corners of the globe we braved butt-busting airline rides, jet lag and language barriers to arrive in the middle of the UAE to do our part in the desert.

Arrival day meant dragging out of the hotel with bio-clocks wreaked and heading to the air base in Al Ain to open the shipping containers. We could only hope the truck drivers and crane operators hadn’t returned our planes to kit form. We were lucky, so the day was spent emptying the containers and assembling our birds.

Anyone out there ever see the old movie “Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines”? If you did, you might remember the scene where teams from all over the world were at the airfield in England, 1906, assembling their wildly varied types of aircraft and preparing for the race across the channel.

Well, let me tell you, we were playing that scene— Hungary, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa, Jordan, Britain, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Lithuania, Russia, Italy, and America all vying for space in the hangar and trying to communicate, say say hello, or at least borrow a wrench! I had to go outside and laugh.

After we all figured out how to get our planes together, there were the test flights. Now those real airshow pilots danced their acro dance and then went out and practiced with deep concentration. I headed for the desert and sand dunes with my Cub and got great satisfaction from chasing camels! I found myself trying to convince the British (contract) tower controllers I needed more practice because everyone wanted to go camel chasing. Hey, this is a tough job.

The producers and volunteers of the show treated everyone with great care and respect. The hotel accommodations were four-star. The performer tent was luxurious with lots of service and catering. Safety was not a rule, it was a LAW. Skip and I were the only ones given permission to do our take-offs on the ramp (there was no runway in front of the crowd). In fact we and Jugas were the only ones allowed aerobatics below a 150 foot hard deck.

The audience was limited to a rather large set of temporary bleachers and a row of luxury suites with patios occupied by the upper class. These people are very family oriented and I think I have never seen so many kids at a show. Language really wasn’t a problem so getting up-close and personal with the crowd was much easier than expected. I even got mobbed by enthusiastic fans trying to get “hero cards” signed. It was actually fun and comfortable to me.

I found that Jurgas was an actual celebrity at this show. He ran a really exciting aerobatic competition as part of the show and seemed to be a respected advisor to the event. If you’ve ever watched him fly you would have no problem understanding this. I was amazed when he showed up with two “Hooters” style models jazzing up his appearance. Man, this is show-biz even in the UAE!

All said and done, Skip Stewart stole the show. Skip was placed as the Grand Finale every day of the show. When Skip powered up for his trademark takeoff they ran to the ropes. You can call Skip “the next Leroy” or whatever, but the truth is he was Skip Stewart in his own right. He flew a sharp, well practiced sequence of pure excitement. Skip reminds me of Jimmy Franklin in his ability to make precise flying look crazy. It was top notch entertainment. And those people of Al Ain would know. They have the pick of the world.

The memory of Jim Leroy was respectfully remembered by all, and the show ended on the last day with a missing man formation that pulled on my heart. The honor of flying the missing man was very appropriately given to Skip himself. And in an expression of warmth and respect, those Emirates flew Joan Leroy and son Tommy to the show.