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Not only a record numbers of visitors are expected to attend the airshow, but also a record number of exhibitors
will be showcasing their products and technologies. Around £50 billion of trade is expected during the week. The
Farnborough International Air Show (FIA) also contributes about £20 million to the local economy around through the
contribution from international visitors and companies. Boeing, Airbus, Dassault, Honeywell, Sikorsky, Rosoboron Export,
SAAB, Thales, Elbit Systems, Raytheon, MBDA, Rafael, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Textron, General Atomics and the list
of big and not-so-big advertisers will be there. India's state-run HAL, which makes Dhruv Advance Light Helicopter (ALH)
and its variants, will display its products.
Top Commanders from air forces around the world will also participate, and the air show will provide a platform for
serious discussions of partnership among them. The Chief of Air Sraff of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is giving a miss this
time but a high level delegation led by an Air Marshal should be there. Some officials from the Ministry of Defence (MoD)
will also take the opportunity to see the emerging aerospace technologies likely to be showcased at the show.
The event is sold out as far as the time for flying displays is concerned, with a waiting list bigger than ever before.
Around 100 aircraft will be on the show. The cynosure of all eyes will be the F-35B Lightning II which will perform on all
five days of the trade show and over the weekend for the public. A large Airbus contingent including the new A350, A400M and
A380 will also take to the skies. A major attraction will be the latest unmanned systems and other innovations such as
surveillance paramotors. Amidst first timers will be Turkey’s TAI with the T129 Attack Helicopter and AgustaWestland’s AW609
which has recently finished flight envelope expansion and the autorotation trials in the development of the first civil tilt-
rotor.
Making its UK debut will be a Messerchmitt Me262 and there will be show stopping displays by Mark Jefferies in the Extra
300SC and a four-ship display from the Breitling Wingwalkers.
The Spanish Navy will bring one of its McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II aircraft to take part in the flying display. A
whole range of historic types will join the Harrier including the Avro Anson, Rolls Royce Spitfire PRXIX, the Douglas C-47A
Skytrain which performed at the Media Launch, Meteor and Vampire plus the F-86A Sabre and the Breitling Lockheed Super
Constellation.
The show this year will see the largest ever presence by the US Department of Defence with a number of aircraft on static
display and an increased presence in the exhibition halls. Boeing will be displaying its F/A-18F Super Hornet and Textron AirLand
will debut the Scorpion light attack aircraft. Textron’s Beechcraft T-6 military trainer, Special Mission King Air 350ER and Cessna
Grand Caravan EX will also be on static display.
The strong Military Delegation presence at the FIA has long been a positive characteristic of the show. FIA2012 saw attendance
from over 70 military delegations from 46 countries and this year promises an increased number. The Commercial and Civil Delegations
programme was introduced to the FIA in 2012, hosting 13 delegate groups attending from countries including UK, Brazil, Malaysia, Saudi
Arabia, Spain and Germany. This year the organisers will be expanding the Commercial and Civil Delegations Programme.
As usual, the Dubai-based Emirates, Abu Dhabi's Etihad and Qatar's Qatar Airways will lead with their presence in the civil
aviation segment.
A ‘Space Zone’ to bring together key players from space agencies and industry to highlight the increasing role of space in a
rapidly changing world, will be a major attraction. Airbus Defence and Space will showcase Alphasat, one of the most technically
advanced telecommunications satellites ever constructed for civilian applications and an exhibition model of the comet chasing
spacecraft Rosetta and a model of Sentinel 5 Precursor Earth observation satellite. NASA and European Space Agency rocket displays
promise to grab attention, as in the past.
Recognising Autonomous Systems and Robotics as one of the ‘Eight Great Technologies’ for economic growth, the Farnborough
International Air Show has broadened the remit for its previous Unmanned Systems showcase to incorporate developers, users, buyers
and sellers of the technology across all areas including space exploration, defence, manufacturing and energy production. Unmanned
outdoor flying opportunities will also be available as part of the main flying display.
The theme of the public weekend will be “100 Years of Aviation.” The static displays with an area set aside for 100 Years of
training aircraft featuring aircraft from The Shuttleworth Collection and other museums will trace the history of military and
civil aviation. Also taking part will be Royal Aircraft Establishment Aero Club which will have its de Havilland Chipmunk T10 on
display with many more. In the air, the Great War Display Team will be an important part of the flying display representing aviation
during the 1914-1918 First World War.
The first public day which is also “Futures Day” aims at promoting the aerospace industry to young people from schools and
universities. The day has grown in popularity with the numbers of schools and colleges attending increasing year on year. The
Royal Aeronautical Society will be showcasing their “Build a Plane” project as part this activity.
A one stop shop for buyers and sellers, the show promises to attract as always America, Europe, Asia, Asia-Pacific, Middle
East, Africa and the rest of the world to sell and buy their military wares. The Meet the Buyer event at the FIA offers those
attending the airshow the benefit of private, pre-planned meetings with companies that are currently searching for new business
partners on an international level. Over 30 major national and international aerospace procurement teams participated in the Meet
the Buyer event at FIA. 2012, with over 600 pre-planned meetings taking place; and this year is sure to be no different, with up
to 42 buyers expected to attend the event.
With 1,500 exhibitors, 32 per cent of these from the UK, 68 per cent from the rest of the world and 115 new exhibitors,
Farnborough is all set to welcome new exhibiting countries Croatia, Malaysia, Thailand and Tunisia, there are currently 17
country pavilions, with the USA, Russia, UK, Italy, and France taking prime spots with the most exhibition space. Morocco and
Malaysia are the new countries with own pavilions.
The show has a 121 chalet units, and there is a new permanent chalet line. There are also brand-new exhibition halls.
India
Strategic extends Best Wishes for Good Business to all participants. :)
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