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It happened in July 2004. Jean Louis Monnet of the Haute
Voltige organization invited us once again to take part in the Air Musical,
but this time in the United Emirates AL AIN in January 2005. The previous
occasion we could take part in this same air musical was in November 2003 in
Japan. But this time we were given the opportunity to explore the desert
with our birds. We started in November with a major maintenance effort of
our aircrafts and dismantled them to prepare for transport by sea container.
The aircrafts were loaded in November and would then be en route for six
weeks, via the Suez Canal, before reaching AL AIN, the United Emirates. We
followed as a team on 19 January from Schiphol to Dubai by KLM. The
reception at Dubai Airport is well organized. We spotted our names on notice
boards everywhere, spelled a bit incorrectly but never mind. We followed
these boards and they eventually lead us to the driver who was to take us to
our hotel in AL AIN. A two and a half hour journey in the rain. Rather
exceptional to have rain in January in this country.
At breakfast the next morning we observed some familiar faces like Peter
Besenyei and Klaus Schrodt, the Flying Bulls and so on. All names of airmen
also present in Japan with the same air musical in 2003. Nice to meet them
again.
We are taken by bus to the AL AIN military airfield. Filming or taking
photographs is strictly prohibited. The container with our aircrafts arrived
a week ago already. Everything still looks in a good condition, the way we
packed it in Asten in November. Re-assembling and fitting-up can begin.
Everyone on the team has his own task to make sure all goes according to
plan. Ruud Jansen is in charge of a smooth progression. When everything is
finished we can make a test flight in the evening over the blistering hot
desert sands of AL AIN. Everything works perfectly. We were able to admire
the impressive view of the desert for the first time.
At the site where the Air Musical is to take place, about 1 km from the
airfield, the local organization is busy building stands, placing
publicity-pillars and refuse-bins, positioning nametags where everyone is
supposed to sit like Women, Family, Vips etc. (After all ladies have to be
seated in a separate stand) All done in a slow and roundabout way.
Everything must be finished in three days time because then will be the big
day. Then the VIPS will come to watch the opening of this event.
We are permitted to practice our own programme within the Air Musical every
day at fixed times as arranged by the organization. Meanwhile our great
friend Kalifa has been appointed to us at the airfield. He will arrange
anything we need for us: petrol, oil (they got plenty of), food and drink.
Just ask and he is on his way. Sometimes a bit quicker than others but an
excellent guy. He taught us a thing or two about local customs and
traditions like how to marry four women, own four houses and have many
children. All very interesting to us and it keeps him busy. During daytime
he is dressed in a green military outfit and when you meet him in the
evening he is very proud of his fine white attire.
Full of admiration we watch our geese take to the air every day, together
with their captain Christian Moullec, flying a similar ultralight to ours.
It all begins with kakaka ….pouet pouet pouet. In this way Christian
communicates with the unborn geese so they will recognize these sounds once
they are born and then see him as their leader at the moment of takeoff for
their flight together with the ultralight.
All that takes to the air during this show from 24 till 28 January 2005 is
too much to mention. The number of participants, about 130, come from 36
different countries. On monday and tuesday it is still fairly quiet as far
as the number of visitors is concerned. As from wednesday the show is flown
especially for our Vips, the gentlemen oilsheiks. The best seats are ready
and waiting for these guests, including a good many snacks and drinks (non-alcoholic
of course). Caroline and Yvonne make sure that a card of the MAT team is put
on these gentlemen’s tables. The tables are covered in publicity material of
participating countries. Our card may be small but very notable.
The party can begin. The show is opened on monday by the Paramotors,
followed by a demonstration by among others the Paradax, the Jet Man,
various military teams show what they are capable of. Naturally there is
also an element of competition put in by the FAI World Grand Prix, in which
our solo display pilots as well as our duo pilots take part. Think of The
Matadors for example, Flying Bulls, Space Knights etc.
THE Air Musical in which we play an important part, comes next. Lily horn is
Born accompanies parts of the air musical by four saxophones. Patricia
Leidig of Almadrave will also present her act live during the show. The
flying-in at exactly the right moment is very important, but that you can
leave to the MAT team. We present a small part in this musical which in
total lasts an hour and a half. We show our programme in eight minutes. With
a timer at the bar Jurgen is to pilot us into the desert arena at exactly
the right second.
This outstanding performance is rewarded in the newspaper the next day by a
great photograph of the team, in colour, together with the Flying Bulls,
headed by the Arabic title: The Netherlands Microlight Aeroteam opens air
show in Al Ain.
We can take part in the entire happening for four days. On wednesday we are
taken to be interviewed at the local camels’ market. Everyone of the MAT
team has his say. We received a DVD-recording of this and the idea is to
broadcast the DVD in future at among others Discovery Channel.
On thursday we spend a day to explore the surroundings of Al Ain. A taxi is
hired and off we go. We are driven to all places we did not want to go, as
the driver did not understand us. In the end everything works out fine and
we had a wonderful day.
Rob Hammink, Telegraaf reporter from The Netherlands, followed us to Al Ain
to discuss with us what we as a team have meant to the rich oil state. He
writes a nice article in the Telegraaf’s sunday edition.of 30 January which
pleasantly surprised us when we arrived back home. The article was titled
‘Musical in the Air’. During our train journey we enjoyed reading the story
remembering our fabulous time in the United Emirates.
Report by Yvonne Jansen. |