The Dubai Air Show opened in traditionally grand fashion as Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum emerged from the Royal Pavilion for a walk down DWC’s flight line and into the exhibit hall, where he stopped to inspect displays by Lockheed Martin and Boeing, among others. The Sheikh’s appearance undoubtedly would prove the highlight of the show, where a light smattering of order announcements during the afternoon made for a generally quiet opening day—apart from the rumble of fighter jets flying overhead.
Orders during the show so far include a contract signed by Horizon International Flight Academy for 12 Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters; Boeing with Biman Bangladesh for a pair of 787-9s; Embraer with Nigeria’s Peace Air covering three E195-E2s and Cairo-based CIAF Leasing for three E190s; Leonardo with Falcon Aviation Services for two AW189s; and De Havilland Aircraft of Canada with Nigeria’s Elin Group for three Dash 8-400s.
On the static line, an Ilyushin Il-76 stood out as one of the more exotic examples of heavy metal on display. Other hardware came in the form of a Saudia Boeing 787-10, and an Emirates A380 and 777-300ER both in special Expo 2020 livery.
A new generation of military transports on display included an Embraer KC-390, an A400M, and a Kawasaki C-2. Perhaps the most notable piece of hardware—the UAE’s new Saab GlobalEye multi-sensor platform—made its public debut. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Defense sent a large contingent of warplanes, most of which are deployed to the Gulf region for operations. The UAE Air Force is also displaying examples of its military hardware such as the F-16 Desert Falcon and Mirage 2000, and a range of helicopters.
Another Dubai Air Show debutante from the sphere of general aviation—a Cirrus SF50 single-engine private jet—graced the static line, as did a Diamond DA62 converted to a special mission platform. Meanwhile, a Gulfstream 650ER led a strong business jet contingent that included the Pilatus PC-24, a Bombardier Global Express, Citation Latitude, and a Dassault Falcon 8X.
Last but not least, on the opening day of the air show was an Airbus-supported e-racer designed for the Air Race E series—heralding shifting sands in aviation.