Write to the editor

I was extremely excited about attending the second Bahrain International Air Show as I didn’t get a chance to visit the last one staged. I already planned what aerobatic events I was going to watch and even what activities I was going to take part in on site having read about the attractions in last week’s GulfWeekly.

My fiancé, a huge aviation enthusiast, and I, made our way on Saturday to the show, bearing in mind that it was a windy and cold day. We weren’t about to let a breeze stop us.
 
We left early to hopefully avoid any traffic issues after warnings from friends who had visited the show on Friday. So imagine our surprise when we reached Sakhir and there was a long line of cars waiting to get to the air base.
However, the problems were being caused by inconsiderate motorists driving on to the dirt road and even in the wrong lane just to try and get ahead.

Why do people do that? I understand they want to get there … but so does everyone else!

After remaining stationary for ages, my annoyance began to build. I got even more irritated when I noticed the static flying displays had begun and we were missing the show.

Then I saw a police vehicle zoom by and thought finally all these inconsiderate drivers were going to get it … but was shocked when I saw that the officers simply ignored what was happening.

We waited and waited and an hour later decided to take to the dirt road ourselves and zoomed past the queuing vehicles with passengers looking as exasperated as we were.

Finally, we got into the air show and met up with our friends in the stands. It was worth it in the end, even though the planes couldn’t put on much of a show later on due to the wind and it really was very cold.

We didn’t stay for the fireworks as we figured if it was this much of a problem getting in we weren’t going through it again to get out.

The show was an overall success. My only request is, please people, think about others and abide by the rules of the road. If they had been adhered to we would all have made it in time.

Would it be too much to ask the authorities to enforce the law and send those trying to push in to the back of the queue?

Frustrated,
Name and address supplied.

I loved your amazing photograph on the front page last week of the SWIP team practicing for the air show with one of the pilots flying through a ring of smoke. Well done.

Tony O’Connor, a photography enthusiast from Saar.

Editor’s note: It was just one of four images taken by a camera attached to the lead aircraft before it was blown to one side by the force of gravity.