Being a self-proclaimed lover of all things aviation you would think that I would have been to loads of air shows. Well that is not the case, much to my disappointment. So when the Farnborough International Air Show rolled around and I was able to go, I jumped at the chance. I made the journey down to London where I met up with two of my friends and the next day on Saturday 24th July we set off to the first public day of the show. The last air show I attended must have been at least 8-9 years ago so I was very excited to be going to the Farnborough Air Show of all places. We recorded audio and took pictures, and I have put together this commentary on the day’s events.
The Farnborough International Air Show has been taking place since 1945; today it has grown to be the biggest air show in the world. The whole event lasts for an entire week, Monday to Friday being the trade show days where thousands from the aerospace industry descend to announce new products, generate orders and demonstrate equipment.
Based at a former RAF base the now privately owned airport covers an area of 581 acers, plenty of space for hundreds of static aircraft displays. As a result of its RAF past the 8,000 ft runway is long enough for almost anything. This year’s show was very important, with the aerospace sector looking like its beginning to make a recovery from the effects of the global credit crisis, the deals done, or deals not done will give an indication of the current state of the industry.
Finance and economics aside, Saturday and Sunday are the public open days of the air show. On these days there is an extended flying display, this year it was from 12:30pm to 5:30pm. Most of the aircraft stay throughout the whole week, although notable absences were, 787-8 Dreamliner, A400M Grizzly and F-22 Raptor. The former two were in the middle of a busy flight testing programme and so could not spare the extra time, but that did not dampen the crowds’ spirits as there were still many aircraft flying over the weekend.

A packed out day at the airshow