Dubai: Pupils in Dubai got the opportunity to talk about rainbow-coloured smoke and death-defying air stunts with one of the world’s most renowned air force aerobatic teams, The Red Arrows, during a visit the pilots made to the school on Wednesday.
The British Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team visited the Dubai English Speaking School (DESS) as part of their outreach programme while they are in the UAE to take part in the Dubai Air Show.
Around 400 hundred pupils from year one to year seven gathered at the assembly hall of the school to welcome the Red Arrows’ Flight Lieutenants Chris Lyndon-Smith (known as Red 6) and Mark Lawson (Red 3).
“We are happy to be here, we don’t get to visit this part of the region often so it is nice to visit an English school and see that our expat children are receiving a good education,” Flight Lieutenant Lawson told Gulf News. “I enjoy coming to Dubai, the weather is great and we always get a good reception,” he added.
Among the questions the excited students asked the pilots were how they changed the colour of the smoke, if they were ever scared during formation and if they ever had to have an emergency landing.
Year six student Kian Taurani, Kenyan, 10, described the pilot’s visit as a once in a lifetime opportunity. “I watched the Red Arrows at the Dubai Airshow last year and became an instant fan as soon as I saw their dangerous stunts. I am very excited to have them here at my school today.”
Following the assembly the pilots toured the school where they also visited the foundation students in their classes. “The pilots were invited by the parents and we were happy to welcome them because having such role models come to the school to inspire the children is important,” said David Hammond, Headmaster at DESS.
The pilots invited the students to their free air show which will be taking place on Thursday at 4.50pm at Jumeirah Beach (next to Burj Al Arab).
