20,000 attend Big African Air Show in Zimbabwe

A record 20 000 people attended the Big African Air Show at Charles Prince Airport in Harare yesterday on its return to Zimbabwe having last been held in 1995 when 15 000 people watched the aviation event.

Among those who attended the air show yesterday were Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Saviour Kasukuwere, Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga, Air Marshal Perrance Shiri, Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri and the Australian cricket team which is on tour in the country.

Event organiser Mr Isaac Levy thanked the Air Force of Zimbabwe and the Government for the support rendered for the event.

"We have had a remarkable participation by the AFZ and assistance in the preparatory stages which we appreciate," he said.

"We thank all people who came from all corners of the world to Zimbabwe to watch the event being held in the Zimbabwean skies after 20 years."

Mr Levy thanked Zimbabwean- born pilot Elton Bondi who initiated the idea and invited other pilots to Zimbabwe which he said brought a different entertainment picture about the country.

Gen Chiwenga said people who came from all over the world will motivate Zimbabweans to participate more in the aviation industry.

"We have our children coming to see this event graced with aerobatic stuntmen from all over the world," he said.

"With the performances they see they will develop an interest and come on board in the aviation industry," he said.

Air Marshal Shiri hailed the organisers, saying the multi-racial event unified people from all walks of life.

"We are happy to host the event and when we fought the liberation struggle we were not fighting for a particular race or ethnic group," he said.

"These are the benefits of that cause and we anticipate people will continue mingling to this magnitude."

Comm-Gen Chihuri said he hoped the event would become an annual showcase.

"The huge attendance by the people at this year's event is attributed to the prevailing peace in the country," he said.

"We would want to see more of the performances annually."

The event, which was broadcast live on ZBCTv, began at 10am and aviation fanatics were treated to splendid performances from the Air Force of Zimbabwe, Air Zimbabwe and world renowned aerobatic teams who brought 20 planes ranging from the Harvard T6 war planes manufactured in 1935, the Extra 300LS and Slick 540s.

Among the performers were aerobatic stuntmen Elton Bondi and Nigel Hopkins, the Dennis Spenceled Good Year Eagles team and award winning stuntman Neville Ferreira.

The AFZ team opened the event and showcased various skills with 15 aircraft and among them a vehicle rescue stunt when a Bell Augusta helicopter lifted a Mazda pick-up truck.

A pulsating moment came at around 10am when an Air Zimbabwe's Boeing 707 made a low fly past at a height of 1,7 metres to the amazement of the spectators.

The crowd also held a moment of silence in honour of AFZ's late Squadron Leader Taurai Jombo and Flight Lieutenant Evidence Begede who perished when their SF260 trainer aircraft plunged into a compound near Charles Prince Airport on Wednesday afternoon during rehearsals.