BIAS: Global Stars come out at night to add sparkle to show display

Instead, the skies over the Sakhir Airbase are lit up thanks to The Global Stars, the world’s first four and then five ship pyro formation team.

Led by experienced champion aerobatic pilot, Mark Jefferies, the team and their Extra 330SC aircraft perform at special events around the world.

Visitors at the last Bahrain show in 2018 were wowed by the British display team and organisers were keen to get them back.

After a two-year hiatus away from aerobatic flying, the Stars were keen to dust off their passports and logbooks and head for Bahrain.

The aircraft themselves were packed in containers and flown to Bahrain by DHL. When they arrived, each was assembled by its engineer and pilot.

According to Jefferies, it’s not just a case of being current on paper, they’ll need to feel current too after a 10-week break from their last UK show. So, since arriving at Sakhir, the team have practised their routine again and again.

Jefferies said The Extra 330SC is fitted with the Lycoming AE10-580 engine, specifically developed for high-performance aerobatic aircraft.

“The engine produces an impressive 320hp (580 cubic inches but only turning at 2,700rpm) which, when you consider there is no ground resistance, is quite incredible,” he said. “Its maximum diving speed is 418 km/h and it has an incredibly fast roll rate of 420 degrees per second.

“If the weather conditions are right, the aircraft can be seen to hover and, in the right hands, it really does perform manoeuvres that should not be possible.”