To Gavin Neil and his extraordinary Mozambique team including Bruno Cardoso Homen, Joao Paulo Ribeiro and Frederico Rocha, we salute you for what had to be one of the most amazing spectacles I have ever attended.
Also, thanks to the Aerclube of Mozambique as well as VIVO and the Maputo municipality for hosting this airshow. In addition, the many sponsors including the Southern Sun hotel group that accommodated the many visiting pilots and their teams as well as members of the media. Thank you.
Keith Fryer was the Air Boss and there was good cooperation between Brian, the Portuguese announcers and the production team. At the same time Keith Andrew was the ramp co-ordinator back at the Maputo International airport, which is around 20 kilometres away from the waterfront. The two Keiths worked well together to ensure that the airshow ran smoothly, which is always going to be tough given the distance from the airport.
The full length of the 1.5-kilometre spectator area along Av. de Novembo boardwalk is close to the Maputo Katembe bridge (the longest suspension bridge on the African continent).
The spectator area was filled with colourful umbrellas for the many vendors selling just about anything.
Show centre was located alongside the fence, whilst the media platform was located just to the east of the platform from where the airshow director Keith Andrew and both Brian Emmenis (English) and Portuguese announcers worked throughout the day. The media platform was set up to accommodate around 12 to 15 photographers and was adequate, although unfortunately rather cramped at times.
The airshow opened with Grant Timms flying Richardt Lovett’s bright red L-29 Delfin ‘Austrian Eagle’ based at Middleburg airfield. The official start of this airshow was at 10h00 and the amazing sound of Menno Parsons’ Tiger striped Huey helicopter flown by Buzz Bezuidenhout who is one of the world’s most experienced and respected helicopter pilots.
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