Wind grounds microlights

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots' Association yesterday successfully held a flypast over Malta's east coast to open celebrations marking the centenary of flight.

Fourteen aircraft ranging from an Air Malta Boeing 737 jet to a tiny single propeller-driven AFM Bulldog and several helicopters took part in the display but the strong wind kept microlight aircraft grounded.

The Wright brothers flew the first powered flight at Kittyhawk on December 17, 1903. The anniversary proper will be marked with another flypast on Wednesday at 12.30 p.m. with the central point being the area between Portomaso and Grand Harbour.

One of the organisers, Liz Micallef, said the display had not been easy because of the disparity between the speed of the aircraft. The Air Malta aircraft flew past first, followed by a Casa belonging to Medavia, a Piper Seneca of the Falcon Alliance aviation school, an AFM Islander and other locally-owned or -based aircraft including an Italian Military Mission AB212 helicopter and AFM Alouette and Bell G47 helicopters.

Ms Micallef thanked Malta Air Traffic Services for having helped coordinate the event.

One of the participating aircraft made a "precautionary landing" soon after the event started because of concerns that something might have been wrong. However, it turned out to be a false alarm.