Chocks away at Al Ain airshow

AL AIN // More than 130,000 spectators are expected to arrive at the sixth annual Al Ain Aerobatic show which got underway today. Hundreds of people dotted the stands for a flypast from an A340 Etihad jet painted in F1 livery, and a performance by the UAE parachute team in which one jumper floated to the ground attached to a giant flag. Radio controlled mini-jets kicked off the event as crowds trickled into the airfield surrounding the city's international airport. Faisal Abdulla al Sheikh, the events management section head of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), said he expected the crowds at the event, which runs from 28 to 31 Jan, to build towards the weekend. "Today we started to open the gates and so far all of the indicators are positive," he said. "The online tickets are doing great." For a full report check back later [e-mail]