Emirates today offered Dubai Airshow spectators and avid aviation enthusiasts a treat with a special fly-past along the Dubai World Centre, DWC, runway in front of stands and the large static display.

The special fly-past is the first time two Emirates wide body aircraft – the Boeing 777-300ER and A380 – have performed a flying display together. The aircraft were closely followed by the UAE’s air display team, Al Fursan. Both the Emirates 777-300ER and A380 flying display aircraft were decorated with the H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan decal as a tribute to the late founding father of the UAE.

The special fly-past was led by an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER at an altitude of 600 feet with an airspeed of 210 knots. It was trailed by an Emirates A380, in line astern and stepped up by 200 feet, to make room for the seven Al Fursan jets set in an arrow formation with their signature smoke trails. Together, the fly past made a large and colourful start to the Dubai Airshow flying display programme.

The Emirates aircraft were operated by a flight deck crew of four UAE National captains. Piloting the Boeing 777-300ER was Captain Ahmed bin Huzaim and Captain Ali Salahi, supported by First Officer Marti Gonzalo. Commanding the A380 was Captain Abbas Shaban and Captain Saeed Al Maktoum, supported by Captain Patrick De-Roeck.

The flying display appeared seamlessly choreographed but involved months of meticulous planning and collaboration between multiple stakeholders including Emirates pilots, Flight Operation Managers and Air Traffic Controllers working together with the Dubai Airshow Flying Control Committee and both aviation authorities the DCAA and the GCAA. Both aircraft operated from the Emirates hub at Dubai International Airport, DXB, and established a holding pattern to the east of DWC just before being joined by Al Fursan and finally making the fly-past.