KENYA: Kenyans treated to flying displays at annual airshow

Record ID: 360934

  • Title: KENYA: Kenyans treated to flying displays at annual airshow
  • Date: 8th October 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPECTATOR, JULIET KARAGU, SAYING: "The day was full of fun because the thing was so fantastic. I love it. I just wish it could happen each and every year or very frequently."
  • Embargoed: 23rd October 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Industry
  • Reuters ID: LVAF395PCHXN0P0SFSFJ0E5PBYZR
  • Story Text: Light planes have entertained spectators as industry insiders call for more interest in aviation from the next generation at the 27th Nairobi Airshow.
    Breath-taking aerobatics by light aircraft drew in thousands of spectators yesterday during the the 2007 edition of the Nairobi International Airshow.
    The event was held at Wilson Airport in Nairobi, Kenya's capital.
    Many Kenyans consider participation in the aviation industry as an activity for the rich, due to the high costs of going to aviation schools and operating aircraft.
    But organisers of the annual show want to change that. This year's event featured the first Kenyan Aviation Career Day during which people could find out how to get involved in the industry.
    "Once again we want to promote aviation amongst the younger generation of kids. Not many kids who go to the aviation, but they go to IT, computers, etc. but this is what it is all about in aviation," said Dennis Spence, a South African pilot.
    Planes were also parked on the runway to give visitors a chance to get a close up view of aircraft. Free rides were offered especially to people who had never been in a plane before.
    The 2007 airshow was special because it was also the 80th anniversary of the Aero Club of East Africa and the international 60th anniversary of a plane breaking the sound barrier.
    "The day was full of fun cause the thing was so fantastic. I love it. I just wish it could happen each and every year or very frequently,"
    said 25-year-old Juliet Karagu, one of the spectators.
    First opened in 1929, Wilson Airport now sees about 120,000 international and local landings every year. Kenya's tourism, health and agricultural sectors depend heavily on the airport which was once home to pioneer aviators like Beryl Markham, the first person to cross the Atlantic alone and Tom Campbell Black, Markham's instructor, who won the London to Melbourne air race in 1934.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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