More than 150 exhibitors from the U.S. have come to exhibit at the 2024 Singapore Airshow, making it the event's largest contingent outside the host country. The number significantly surpasses the nation's pre-pandemic participation of some 105 companies and organizations; this year's airshow includes 38 first-time exhibitors from the U.S. and 27 companies that only recently joined the market.
Participants range from aerospace giants such as L3Harris Technologies, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin, to business jet and helicopter manufacturers Gulfstream and Bell, as well as tech startups such as JetZero.
In addition, 26 states are represented in the U.S. pavilion, including nine standalone exhibits from Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Oregon, and Utah.
The USA Partnership Pavilion opening ceremony on Tuesday features several dignitaries, including U.S. ambassador to Singapore Jonathan Kaplan, Aerospace Industries Association president and CEO Eric Fanning, and Andrew Hunter, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology, and logistics.
With an emphasis on sustainability at this year's show, the U.S. participants crafted their displays using specific eco-friendly and recyclable building materials, eliminating single-use plastics in their cafés and hospitality services. Graphics were printed on recycled paper, and an interactive digital directory replaces paper literature.
Among the activities planned at the U.S. pavilion is the award of a weeklong, all-expenses-paid, hands-on astronaut training experience to four high school students and one educator. Those selected will attend the U.S. Space and Rocket Center’s Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, through the Astronaut Al Worden Endeavour Scholarship led by U.S. organizer Kallman.
The program honors the pilot of the Apollo 15 command module Endeavor. Worden had served as Kallman’s STEM ambassador at trade shows before he passed away in 2020.