UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

The MAT team in AL AIN

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.

LUXEMBURG

In Luxemburg the team twice took part in the so called “Tour du Luxembourg”, an interesting trip which took us through the beautiful landscape.