More than 80 tonnes of equipment and 10 aircraft, including a Spitfire, have been unloaded at Sakhir Airbase in preparation for this weekend's Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS).

The majority of aircraft arrived by sea for assembly in Bahrain, but four small acrobatic planes were transported by airfreight, according to official event logistics partner DHL reported the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Approximately two tonnes of exhibitors' shipments will also be arriving by air tomorrow when the show opens to trade visitors.

DHL Aviation Middle East and Africa vice president Malcolm Macbeth told the GDN he was confident everything will be delivered on time for the third biennial show.

"An air show of this size involves a massive multi-module logistical operation," he said.

"We put together a team of some of our most experienced international specialists with expertise in air, sea and road transportation that were ideally grouped together to carry out this project.

"It has been very much a team effort across all functions within DHL together with close liaison, assistance and co-operation from the Civil Aviation Authority, Bahrain Defence Force, customs and the Interior Ministry."

Under a two-year sponsorship agreement signed at the Paris Airshow last year, DHL will be the official logistics partner for BIAS until 2016.

The company has been managing all shipments arriving for this year's show and also plans to exhibit a DHL-branded Boeing 757, which is scheduled for a special air display and fly-by.

BIAS will be open to the public for three days from Thursday and promises visitors the chance to catch flying displays from aerobatic display teams the Breitling Wingwalkers and Saudi Hawks as well as fly-bys from aircraft such as the Lockheed Martin F22 Raptor and Dassault Mirage 2000.

Planned side attractions in the public showground area include a heritage village, operated in conjunction with the Social Development Ministry, a space zone exhibit run by the UK's National Space Centre, 3D street art, vertical wind tunnels, mad science workshops and arts and crafts. - TradeArabia News Service