Dubai aerospace exposition opens

The last air force exposition before the new millennium was opened in Dubai on Sunday with the participation of more than 500 companies representing more than 36 countries.

AFP said that United Arab Emirates Minister of Defense Sheikh Muhammad Rashed al-Maktoum opened the Dubai 2000 International Aerospace Exhibition in the presence of the foreign delegations, 18 of which were represented on the level of ministers.

Among the participating companies are the American Boeing and the European Airbus Industries. A market for business planes is also represented strongly in the fair, which will continue until November 18. These include the Canadian company Bombardier Aerospace Inc and the US Gulfstream.

Some 17 of the displayed planes will make flights. They include Raphal, F-16, Mirage 2000, the Russian Sukhoi 29 and latest designs of MiG 21 and MiG 29 planes.

The Dubai aerospace exhibition is the third most important following Varenpore near London and Le Burjiere near Paris. It is equal to that of Singapore.