Bahrain Mirror:  Aerobatic team "Russian Knights" was unable to participate in the Bahrain International Airshow due to delay Iran's issuance of a permit to fly through its airspace, reported Russia Today.

A source in the Russian Embassy in Bahrain told the Russian news agency "Novosti" on Thursday (January 21, 2016) that the team was preparing to take part in the air shows which will take place during the event. they went to the city of Astrakhan in southern Russia, "but the team was unable to continue its trip to Bahrain because of the Iranian delay giving permission to fly through its airspace", the source added.

The source further stated that the team leadership decided on Wednesday to return back to its air base in Kubinka after it thought they would not be given the permission to fly across Iran at the required date.

The Bahrain International Airshow 2016 was launched in the Bahraini Capital Manama on Thursday (January 21, 2016) with participation of 139 companies from 35 countries.

It is noteworthy that the "Russian Knights" took part in Bahrain's airshow since its first event in 2010.

Colonel Igor Klimov, the representative of the Russian Air Force, said earlier that the "Russian Knights" which will participate in the fourth session of Bahrain International Airshow will present a new show by the fighter aircraft "Su-27" including the "pyramid" and various combat forms, as well as the "ring of death" and other spectacular forms the team is known for.

Klimov added that the show will include complicated forms, as the planes will be 1-3 meters apart from one another at times.

"Russian Knights" was established in 1991, and is the only team in the world which uses heavy fighter aircraft in its shows.

Arabic Issue