WADI NATRUN, EGYPT ( NOVEMBER 1, 1982) ( REUTERS - MOHAMMAD FAHMI)


GV Gazelle helicopters fly past, trailing Egyptian flags 0.06
SV Foreign dignitaries walk to seats in stand 0.22
CU & SV Field Marshal Abu Ghazala arrival (in uniform) (2 shots) 0.31
SV PAN & CU Foreign guests seated, including Omanis, Sudanese, Soviets and Iraqis (4 shots) 0.43
SV Model of bombing range 0.51
GV & LV Mirage jets in attacking run, missiles exploding (2 shots) 1.01
GV Officials seated under awning 1.03
GV TU-16 bombers in flight (2 shots) 1.10
CU Cameraman 1.11
LV & SV Cameramen film as three Alpha Jets overfly 1.26
CU Chinese observer with binoculars 1.28
GV & LV F-16s and Mirage jets carry out rocket attacks (3 shots) 1.54
GV PAN Mirage overfly trailing coloured smoke 2.10



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Background: A major air force display featuring Egypt's first jet -- the Alpha Jet was held at Wadi Natrun in the Western Desert, some 60 kilometres (40 miles) northwest of Cairo, on November 1, to mark the air force's 50th anniversary. President Hosni Mubarak had been due to attend but he abruptly cancelled at the last minute. The senior government representatives there was Field Marshal Abdel-Halim Abu Ghazala, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. Arab countries, including representatives from Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Morocco also attended. The occasion was somewhat marred by the crash of a Mirage-5 fighter bomber, but the pilot bailed out and the display went on with aircraft using live ammunition on ground targets. It included the launching of a Maverick missile from a US-built F-4 Phantom jet. But the Alpha Jet, designed for advanced training and tactical support missions, stole the limelight. The jet, which Egypt is jointly producing with France aroused a considerable amount of interest. It's been described as the key to the country's future as an international arms supplier.