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FLIGHT OF THE RED ARROWS
The world-famous Red Arrows aerobatic team put on a magnificent, high-speed display over the Emirates Palace on Friday evening.
At times reaching speeds of almost 800mph and with the jets often no more than six feet apart, the British Royal Air Force's (RAF's) elite aerobatic unit blazed their distinctive trail of white, blue and red vapour across the Abu Dhabi sky.
A crowd watched in awe as the nine Red Arrows performed one spectacular manoeuvre after another over the course of 20 minutes.
Squadron leader Dicky Patounas, 35, whose team is touring the Middle East, India and Europe, told City Times: "It is not dangerous but very difficult. If you can imagine driving a car one foot from the car in front of you at a 100mph down a motorway in the fog and the guy [in front] is swerving in and out of traffic, that is the kind of concentration you need."
He described the thrill of flying a Red Arrow: "It is unbelievable. It is the hardest thing I have ever done by some margin. It is absolute concentration for half an hour and you can't think about one other thing. [It] is extremely draining and, to that extent, you don't sit back and enjoy the view!
"It is in hindsight that you enjoy it. When you land you picture in your head what has happened and you get a big buzz afterwards for achieving the standards that you require of yourself."
To apply to become a Red Arrow a member of the RAF has to be a fast-jet pilot, have had 1,500 hours' flying time and be deemed to be above average. Three new Red Arrows are chosen every year, with each member of a nine-strong team serving for three years.
"It is very physically demanding, particularly in the heat in this climate because we are not used to it," Patounas added. "And we suffer, quite frankly. Eight-G means you are eight times heavier, so your hand will be eight times heavier, as will your head, your heart, your body weight. So if I am normally 12 stone I will be 100 stone. So, lifting 100 stone is what you are doing while flying the aircraft."
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