Kenya on Saturday staged an air show that displayed military and civilian aerobatic capabilities ahead of the June 1 Madaraka Day to commemorate the day in 1963 that the East African country attained self rule.
NAIROBI, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Saturday staged an air show that displayed military and civilian aerobatic capabilities that entertained the public.
An aerobatic team performs during the Museum Air Show Festival in Nairobi, Kenya, on May 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Long Lei)
Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta and visiting Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed attended the Museum Air Show Festival that was organized by the Kenya Defense Forces in conjunction with Aero Club of East Africa.
Military aircraft perform during the Museum Air Show Festival in Nairobi, Kenya, on May 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Long Lei)
The daylong event comprised aerobatics by Kenya Air Force Jets which performed tactical movements involving inverted flying to the delight of the crowd.
An aerobatic team performs during the Museum Air Show Festival in Nairobi, Kenya, on May 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)
The Mark Hensman team, a South African aerobatics group composed of four small aircraft performed death-defying stunts in a synchronized fashion.
Photo taken on May 28, 2022 shows a parachute display during the Museum Air Show Festival in Nairobi, Kenya. (Xinhua/Long Lei)
Kenya Wildlife Service also performed drills involving aircraft to save wildlife from poachers.
An aerobatic team performs during the Museum Air Show Festival in Nairobi, Kenya, on May 28, 2022.(Photo Joy Nabukewa/Xinhua)
As part of the exhibition, Kenya Defense Forces paratroopers were dropped from airborne helicopters as part of a mock hostage rescue mission.
A firefighting helicopter performs during the Museum Air Show Festival in Nairobi, Kenya, on May 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)
Consolata Gesora, a mother of one told Xinhua on Saturday that the air show was a very delightful experience.
"I am very proud of the aerial skills displayed by our military," Gesora said.
People watch aerobatic performance during the Museum Air Show Festival in Nairobi, Kenya, on May 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)
Dennis Munene, a software engineer said that the aerial stunts that were exhibited were very thrilling.
The 26-year-old observed that Kenya's aviation sector faces a bright future due to the talent locally available.
Jackline Kamweti, a business lady told Xinhua that the most exciting part of the air show was the flight maneuvers exhibited by the Mark Hensman team of four aircraft.
"I enjoyed their aerial somersaults that were performed in unison because they were gravity-defying," Kamweti added. ■
