Touring the United Arab Emirates

**dobar** · 12-03-2008, 03:34 PM

Red Bull caught on to my idea of seeing the world from the cockpit of an Edge 540 so sent me to Dubai ahead of the Air Race in Abu Dhabi. Here's the flight around Dubai and Abu Dhabi itself.

Sitting at a gate reserved for me, Dubai airport doesn't have GA facilities.

Land of Emirates, there's the Cargo centre along with a plane being loaded.

Looking back at the rounded terminals, they are fantastic!

Take off! I put on the smoke system for passengers waiting by gates.

A view of the unusual buildings. This one doesn't seem busy this afternoon.

One of many unusual buildings around here, no idea what it is!

The city awaits. Look at that lovely sea!

That is the one of the world's tallest buildings, it's massive!

Another view as we go by.

That is one of many man made archipelagos, this one is a world map.

Still more to come!

**dobar** · 12-03-2008, 03:42 PM

Heading towards the next part of the city. A sea mist is coming in. You can see the sail shaped hotel on the coast.

A quick hello to all staying in the hotel!

One of the palm islands. This one was the first to be built.

The next day, after flying home to Abu Dhabi after the tour of Dubai, I set off to the track to demonstrate the course to spectators.

Coming in towards the Corniche at the tip of the island.

There's the track, time to go in!

After gate 5 is a half cuban, this is on the way down to 6 in front of us before passing the start gate in the distance for lap 2. I personally dislike this new lap format, it takes away all the old skill of the complex courses they used to do.

In the half cuban eight. My engineer took these shots from the beach, lucky him! I was stuck in the hot, cramped cockpit straining my body with all the G.

On the far chicane, I pass through with ease, a quick flick right, then left, then right round the end pylon.

Through the second consecutive chicane, this was a new feature to have two of them.

More to come!