Southside - DublinPeople.com

5 JUNE 2013. SOUTHSIDE PEOPLE
All eyes will be
on Dublin skies
for air spectacular
news
11
THOUSANDS of people are expected to gather by the
River Liffey quays on Sunday, September 15, to experience
the Irish Aviation Authority’s and Dublin City
Council’s FlightFest, an international flypast.
Details of the event were
announced recently by the
Lord Mayor of Dublin, Naoise
Ó Muirí, Minister for Transport,
Tourism and Sport, Leo
Varadkar and IAA chairperson,
Anne Nolan.
Over 30 aircraft will fly
through the city of Dublin as
part of the Gathering Ireland
2013. They will set off from
Dublin Airport, before flying
to Dublin Port and up along
the River Liffey, as far as the
Customs House.
The sustained flypast
through Dublin city centre will
take two hours to complete
and the flights will be sequenced
at five minute intervals.
FlightFest will be a free
family event and a large section
of the quays will be pedestrianised
for the occasion. There
will be many family attractions
and festivities available, creating
a carnival atmosphere.
Large commercial aircraft
from Ireland and abroad will
fly past, including the Boeing
737 and the Airbus A320,
A321, A300, A330 and A340
aircraft.
The Irish Air Corps and the
Royal Air Force will also participate
and spectators will
enjoy a variety of helicopters
and vintage aircraft, including
the World War II Spitfire and
the B-17 Flying Fortress.
The Lord Mayor of
Dublin, Naoise Ó Muirí, said
that such a spectacular flypast,
right in the heart of the city,
will lift the spirits of local families
and those who visit the
capital.
“The display of all these
aircraft over the Liffey will be
a spectacle that will be remembered
by old and young for
many years to come,” he said.
“Dublin City Council is delighted
to work with the IAA,
Dublin Port Company and the
airlines, along with all those involved
in putting together this
spectacular family event.”
The Minister for Transport,
Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar,
said the event will be a real
Gathering highlight.
“I can’t wait to see these
aircraft flying over the Liffey,”
Minister Varadkar stated. “It
will be a fantastic draw for visitors
from overseas and from
Ireland.”
FlightFest is being brought
to Dublin by the Irish Aviation
Authority and Dublin City
Council, in partnership with
Dublin Port Company, Gathering
Ireland 2013, Fáilte Ireland,
Tourism Ireland, the Air
Corps and An Garda
Síochána.
Anne Nolan, chairperson
of the Irish Aviation Authority,
said: “Half of the world’s aviation
fleet is now managed
from Ireland, with 1,000 people
directly employed in the
aviation leasing industry in the
country.
“By providing the people
of Dublin and those visiting
the city with an opportunity to
see, at close hand, some of the
best aircraft in the world, the
industry is contributing to attracting
domestic and international
tourists to the city.”
The aviation financing and
leasing community has come
together to support the event,
along with all the major Irish
air operators.
The FlightFest flypast will
take place on the afternoon of
Sunday, September 15. It will
be possible to see the aircraft
from most parts of the city centre.
However, the best vantage
points will be along the River
Liffey from Dublin Port right
up to the Customs House.
The aircraft confirmed at
present include: B-17 Flying
Fortress; Pilatus PC9; Learjet;
Casa; Gulfstream; Cessna;
ML407 Grace Spitfire; RJ85;
Sikorsky S92 and S61 and
AW139 helicopters; C130 Hercules;
Boeing 737; and Airbus
A320, A321, A300, A330 and
A340.
Owners of additional aircraft
are expected to confirm
their participation in the coming
weeks.
PLANE TO SEE: Robert Kennedy (6) pictured at the launch of ‘FlightFest’.
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