Page 41 - Jetpower (January 2020)

040-044 Dubai:Layout 1 Englisch 09.01.2020 13:51 Uhr Seite 41

Uzman and his people run While in our latitudes the flying season is almost over, at le-
four model shops in Dubai.
Here you can find every- ast with complex and large aircraft, it is just beginning in the
thing that is good and ex- United Arab Emirates (UAE). Here the winter is coming and the
pensive. And of course Jet-
Power and MFI. temperatures are getting bearable for outdoor activities. During
a short holiday for the Dubai Air Show, I registered with one of
the largest retailers in the UAE and was warmly welcomed:
"Today I'll show you my shops and tomorrow morning at 5.30
am I'll be off to the airport," said Uzman. "Half past five? Then
Just as you wanted to hover
your Eurosport, the gang it's still dark!". "That's right, but then we'll be at the airfield by
shows up… sunrise and it's not that hot yet - besides, the others will be the-
re by then".
Uzman currently runs four model making shops in Dubai alo-
ne. Super equipment and of course everything that is good and
expensive is in stock. But even for the average model builder,
the range is impressively extensive. The shops are packed up
to the ceiling. The sellers all come from India or Pakistan and
know the model making business inside out. All branches of
air, water and land are represented here. However, the main
business of the model building dealers here is with large RC
cars. These are extremely popular in the UAE. Of course, on-
line trading is flourishing here too, but I was surprised how ma-
ny customers come into the shops during the day and shop
profusely. A dream for retail stores. They open their doors
around 10 a.m. and stay open until 10 p.m. all week. Although
they have just introduced a 5% VAT rate in the UAE, Uzman re-
mains calm: "We continue to sell tax-free. And worldwide". So
if you are a tourist or business traveller in the Emirates and you
are a model pilot, an extended visit to one of the model shops
there is a must.
"Pick a plane here, my men will fix it up. You can fly it tomor-
row in Al Lisaili; it's a lot of fun out there. That's an incredibly ge-
nerous offer. I know 5:30 is really early, especially on vacation,
but I was curious. The model airfield is located about 35 km
outside the city. You can easily reach it via highway E66 from
Dubai to Al Ain. Originally it was located at the city limits near
the Dubai International Airport. But here there were repeated
incidents with drones. Flight operations had to be suspended
a few times for security reasons and the airport closed. Losses
in the millions, even in Dubai, cannot be sustained over the
long term. So it was decided to relocate the model airfield. And
within a very short time a new airfield was built in the desert ne-

Although the Al Lisaili RC Flying Field has a specially designed area for
off-road RC cars, there are also frequent drives on the asphalt surfaces of
megastores and malls or in the desert. There are sand and dunes enough
for the buggies.

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