This year’s Farnborough International Airshow, which takes place from July 11 to 17, looks set to reignite the excitement in the aerospace industry that was muted for so long after the financial crisis that started in 2008. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is expected (yet again) to be the star of the show, with the flight of the Airlander airship and events such as Boeing’s centenary celebration expected to give some buzz it hasn’t seen for years.
At press time the exhibition halls were 95 percent sold out, and China has a large pavilion for the first time. Austria, Brazil, the Republic of Ireland and South Korea have also secured pavilions for the first time, bringing to 22 the number of international pavilions.
Amanda Stainer, commercial director of Farnborough International, said the organizer is “really pleased” with sales to date, adding that “67 percent of our exhibitors are international.”
As of the middle of last month, organizers had confirmed 94 aircraft for the static display, including the F-35. She highlighted that there would be two Airbus A380s and two A350s (one each from Airbus itself and Qatar Airways), and “some big aircraft from America.” Boeing has not yet agreed to go public with the aircraft it plans to bring for the centenary celebration. “We’ve got two big slots for Boeing,” noted Stainer, who added there would also be “some Antonovs,” along with a range of smaller aircraft, including a good number of business and general aviation aircraft.
“We have strong support here. For example, the HondaJet will be at the show–with [UK dealer] Marshall Aerospace–and Diamond is bringing three aircraft. Dassault is bringing a Falcon 7X and 2000LX, and we have four slots for Gulfstream.” She also said that the Dornier 328Jet (and 328 turboprop) will be in the static display, along with the Pilatus PC-12, Cessna Caravan and Viking Air Twin Otter 400. “It’s pretty good to have so many booked in so early,” she said. The Airlander is slated to be “doing a flypast every day,” Stainer added.
Among the historical aircraft on static display will be the Royal Navy Historic Flight’s Swordfish, a Lockheed Electra and a Catalina flying boat. There will also be a theme around aircraft that have appeared in films, among them a Hurricane, a DC-3, the world’s only remaining flying Spartan Arrow biplane and a Stampe biplane.
Flying Display
Stainer expects a packed schedule for the flying display. “We’re hoping to open the flying on the Monday morning with the F-35 and Red Arrows at around 10:30 a.m., and the F-35 will fly at around 2:30 p.m. It won’t fly on the Wednesday and Thursday but will fly on Friday to Sunday for the public days.
The Eurofighter Typhoon will be aloft on the trade days and weekend and the U.S. Air Force is expected to fly an F-16 Fighting Falcon and an F/A-18 Hornet. As for other commercial aircraft, Stainer told AIN, “We are hoping for the [Bombardier] C Series and it has been allocated a slot.” Several aerobatics displays are on the slate for the public days, including the Pitts Aerobatics Team, the Twisters, the Blades, the Breitling Wing Walkers and the Red Arrows.
Drones: a Show, a Race and an Emphasis on Safety
New this year is the UK Drone Show, said Andrew Pearcey, Farnborough International marketing and communications director, who is responsible for the public days. The UK Drone Show will also feature UK Drone Racing.
Farnborough International joined forces with the CAA, NATS, Arpas and Hampshire Constabulary to host the Drone Safety Awareness Weekend, “to help educate recreational drone pilots and the general public about the laws relating to unmanned aircraft in the UK, as well as give sensible advice regarding safe flying and possible dangers.”
Martin Brandenburg, marketing director at DJI Europe, platinum sponsor for the UK Drone Show, said, “Visitors can expect exciting daily live demonstrations with DJI’s leading products such as the Phantom and the Inspire at the DJI booth. During the Drone Safety Awareness Weekend, DJI will demonstrate tools such as the geofencing system to a broader audience.”