Alpha Bravo is definitely an unusual shop! While craft-shops selling model ships are found all over the island, this company has decided to count on innovation and originality: their shop, open since the 1st of December, specialises in model aircraft. Ismael Summaly, the company manager, explains, ?It took us more than three years to be able to embark on this brand new business in Mauritius. We had to learn a lot about aircraft and history!?

The result is amazing and attractive! Alpha Bravo, located on the first floor of the Comptoir des Mascareignes, the pleasant new shopping centre opposite the Pamplemousses Garden, offers more than 300 different models ranging from World War I and World War II to more modern military aircraft.

The staff is working on short leaflets that they will give to customers when the latter buy one of their models, on the history of the particular aircraft. But, for the moment, they obviously take pleasure in giving customers details about the origins and some anecdotes about some of the models exhibited.

This is how we came to learn that the Fokker Red Baron was the first aircraft with synchronized submachine guns and propellers. Likewise, we got to know the Lightning from which Antoine de St Exupery took some photographs-and on which he eventually disappeared.

<B>Mauritian touch</B>

The 300 models are from many different countries to attract the biggest possible number of people from all over the world. ?However, collectors do not always buy aircraft from their own country. They choose aircraft which they find particularly attractive no matter what their origin.? More than just a shop, Alpha Bravo can be considered as a ?mini- museum? which displays the evolution of aircraft design.

The main characteristic of these aircraft models made to scale is the material: they are done in mahogany wood. ?There are a certain number of such shops in Europe and elsewhere in the world but most of their models are in plastic or resin. Models made in wood definitely have a higher standard,? explains Clifford, who works in the shop. This specific wood was chosen because it is strong and never cracks.

The models are hand- made and decorated after 20 to 30 layers of varnish have been applied. For the moment, the whole process is done in Asia but the management has a lot of projects. In the middle term, they intend to do the finishing (that is the painting) here in Mauritius but expertise is hard to find as no one has any experience of aircraft model-making so they need some time to train people. In the long term, they would like to relocate the whole production to the island. ?The fact is that you really need professionals to deal with such meticulous work and this can?t be done overnight,? the manager points out.

According to the staff, the company has had such a good feedback that they can envisage long-term projects. ?A lot of people believe that only tourists are interested in our products but this is not true at all. Mauritians are starting to know about us and their curiosity often turns into admiration and they go home with a model. It can also be an excellent gift idea.? Within the coming year, the company intends to open a second shop in Port-Louis and another one in Curepipe. They may also open a duty free shop at the airport. They are even thinking about exporting their products as soon as they are made locally.

Alpha Bravo is currently negotiating with the main airlines like Air Mauritius, British Airways and Air France, to obtain authorization to reproduce their aircraft. This should be a step in the right direction since more people will feel concerned and interested.

They?re also working on dedicating a special space in the shop to the first aircraft that landed in Mauritius, in Mont-Choisy more exactly. ?This would give a Mauritian touch to the show-room, which should be very interesting,? says Clifford. This new shop seems to have a lot of projects ahead?