• Menu
  • Menu
  • Business
  • Subscribe now
    Digital subscription Print subscription
  • Logout
Digital subscription
Print subscription
Trending
UAE holidays 2022 Golf in UAE Gratuity Calculator Qatar World Cup 2022
  • Latest News
  • UAE
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Government
    • Health
      • Why Worry
    • Transport
    • Science
    • Weather
    • Ask the Law
    • Reader Complaint
    • UAE's Hope Probe
  • Living In UAE
    • Visa+Immigration
    • Housing
    • Phone+Internet
    • Banking
    • Transport
    • Health
    • Education
    • Relocate
    • Ask Us
    • Safety+Security
  • UAE Success Stories
  • Business
    • Banking
    • Aviation
    • Property
    • Energy
    • Analysis
    • Tourism
    • Markets
    • Retail
    • Corporate News
  • Best Buys
    • Electronics
    • Home and Kitchen
    • Offers
    • Consumables
    • Lifestyle
  • Your Money
    • Saving and Investment
    • Budget Living
    • Taxation
    • Expert Columns
    • Community Tips
    • Cryptocurrency
  • Food
    • Cooking and Cuisines
    • Guide to Cooking
    • Videos
  • Friday
    • Beauty
    • Wellbeing
    • Art & People
    • Home
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Sudoku
    • Word Search
    • Spell It
    • Play
  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy & Baby
    • Learning & Play
    • Child Health
    • For Mums & Dads
    • Ask Us
    • Games
  • Discounts
  • Qatar World Cup 2022
    • Teams
    • Travel
    • News & Views
  • Play Games
  • Magical Dubai
    • Dubai Life
    • Live the Luxury
    • Culture and History
    • Adventure
    • Staying Connected
  • World
    • Gulf
      • Bahrain
      • Kuwait
      • Oman
      • Qatar
      • Saudi
      • Yemen
      • Games
    • Mena
    • Europe
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
      • India
      • Pakistan
      • Philippines
    • Oceania
    • Offbeat
    • Coronavirus
    • Infographics
    • Special Reports
    • Corrections
  • Special Reports
  • Photos
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Readers' Photos
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Op-Eds
    • Letters
    • From the Editors
  • Sport
    • UAE Sport
    • Horse Racing
      • Dubai World Cup
    • Cricket
      • IPL
        • Chennai
        • Delhi
        • Punjab
        • Kolkata
        • Mumbai
        • Rajasthan
        • Bangalore
        • Hyderabad
        • Gujarat
        • Lucknow
        • Live Scores
        • Point Table
        • Top Scorers
      • ICC
    • Motorsport
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Rugby
    • Golf in UAE
      • UAE
      • World
      • Photos & Videos
      • Course Reviews
      • Learn to Play
      • Gear
  • Entertainment
    • Hollywood
    • Bollywood
    • Pakistani Cinema
    • South Indian
    • Arab Celebs
    • Music
    • TV
    • Books
    • Theatre
    • Arts+Culture
  • Expo 2020
    • News
    • Photos
    • Pavilions
    • Visit the Expo
    • Experience the UAE
    • Entertainment
    • Videos
  • Going Out
  • Auto
    • News
    • Test Drives
    • Car Culture
    • Auto Care
  • Lifestyle
    • Health+Fitness
    • Community
    • Fashion
  • GN Reach
  • Jobs
  • Tech
    • Electronics
    • Gaming
    • Media
  • Videos
    • How-To
    • Best Of Bollywood
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Business
    • Sport
    • Community
    • Technology
  • Travel
  • GN Focus
    • Special Features
  • Mind Your Migraine
  • 50 MENA Leaders
  • The Kurator
    • Share
    • Dare
    • Flair
  • Bayat Chapters
  • Gold-Forex
  • Gratuity Calculator
  • Notifications
  • Gold/Forex
  • Prayer Times
  • Cinema Listing
  • Newsletters
  • About Gulf News
  • Contact us
  • Work with us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Gulf News store
  • Advertise with us
  • Reach by GN
  • GN Focus
  • Gulf News epaper
  • Sitemap
  • Have your say
  • © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2022. All rights reserved.
    Photos: Jordanian flies the world from homemade basement cockpit

    Photos

    Login / Sign Up
    Logout
    Friday, August 12, 2022
    Gold / Forex

    Photos Business

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Readers' Photos
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
    All Sections

    Photos: Jordanian flies the world from homemade basement cockpit

    Now retired, his life-long passion has taken a new spin


    Published:  December 04, 2021 12:26 AFP  and  Compiled by Nathaniel Lacsina, Senior Web Editor

    1 of 8
    homemade basement cockpit
    Amman: Jordanian Muhammad Malhas has long harboured dreams of being a pilot. Now at 76 years old, he's soaring above the clouds in a cockpit he built in his basement. "Since the beginning of time, man has been watching the birds in the sky, and dreaming of flying freely," Malhas told AFP. Image Credit: AFP
    2 of 8
    homemade basement cockpit
    As a boy, he enjoying flying his kite and wondering how something so flimsy made of paper could soar so high. "It was then the desire and love of flying began to obsess me," he added, sitting in the flight simulator, a replica of the cockpit of a Boeing 737-800, which he has spent three years building from scrap and secondhand items. Image Credit: AFP
    3 of 8
    homemade basement cockpit
    "My heart was always hanging in the sky, and my dream was to become a pilot, but circumstances did not allow it," he said. He graduated in hospital management from a London university in 1969, and went to work with his father at the Amman hospital the family had founded. Image Credit: AFP
    4 of 8
    homemade basement cockpit
    But Malhas kept his dreams alive, devouring books on aviation, aircraft engineering and guides to learning how to fly. He even joined the Royal Jordanian Air Academy in 1976, rising before dawn to take flying lessons in a small Piper aircraft, before heading to work. He obtained his licence two years later. Image Credit: AFP
    5 of 8
    homemade basement cockpit
    For almost a decade he was a member of the Jordanian Gliding Club, taking to the skies every weekend. And by 2006, he was flying virtually thanks to flight software he downloaded on his computer. He joined a global network of flight simulator fans, where they could fly in almost real conditions directed by an air traffic controller. Image Credit: AFP
    6 of 8
    homemade basement cockpit
    Now retired, his life-long passion has taken a new spin. Sat in front of three large screens, equipped with switches and indicators, in his homemade cockpit, Malhas has the world at his fingertips. All the parts were bought at local markets. The chairs were originally part of a bus. Image Credit: AFP
    7 of 8
    homemade basement cockpit
    The screens show pictures of clouds and sky above, rivers, forests and deserts below. He can even choose what the weather outside is like. The work took three years, with the help of friends who are electronic engineers. And it cost around six thousand dinars ($8,400). Image Credit: AFP
    8 of 8
    homemade basement cockpit
    His friend Ahmed Fares, 25, helped installing switches and indicators which "respond to the conditions of the plane, so that it looks like a real plane flying". Sometimes his wife joins Malhas in the cockpit. "I think it is amazing to fly while sitting at home and to feel the joy of flying around the world," he said. Image Credit: AFP

    Trending

    • Latest pictures: How Dubai Hindu temple is taking shape

      Latest pictures: How Dubai Hindu temple is taking shape


    • Photos: France battles 'monster' wildfire

      Photos: France battles 'monster' wildfire

    Latest In

    • UK declares drought in parts of England amid heatwave

      13 minutes ago

    • UAE dog shelter founder wins Dh77,777 in Emirates Draw

      13 minutes ago

    • Weekend watchlist: 10 TV shows and movies to check out

      22 minutes ago

    • UAE leaders say youth will raise country to new heights

      47 minutes ago

    • UAE authorities plan measures for weather situation

      1 hour ago

    Go back to top
    Network links:
    • Friday
    • Watch Time
    • getthat
    • Jobs
    • Commercial Printing
    • About Gulf News
    • Contact us
    • Work with us
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Gulf News store
    • Advertise with us
    • Reach by GN
    • GN Focus
    • Gulf News epaper
    • Sitemap
    • Have your say
    Find us on Social
    © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2022. All rights reserved.
    This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you. Both on your website and other media. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our Privacy Policy.
    Share on Facebook
    Share on Twitter
    Share on Whatsapp
    Share on Mail
    Share on LinkedIn
    Close
    Gulf News

    Get Breaking News Alerts From Gulf News

    We’ll send you latest news updates through the day. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon.

    Subscribe No Thanks
    Continue reading Gulf News
    Dear Reader, please register to read gulfnews.com

    Dear Reader,

    This section is about Living in UAE and essential information you cannot live without.

    Register to read and get full access to gulfnews.com

    Create your account
    or login if you already have one
    First name is required.
    Last name is required.
    Please enter a valid email address.
    Password should have minimum 7 characters with at least one letter and number
    Passwords do not match

    By clicking below to sign up, you're agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

    Login your account
    New to Gulf News? Sign up now
    Please enter your email address.
    Please enter your password.

    Forgot password

    or