by Chris Bentley

A RECORD-breaking airshow has ensured a resounding success for new hosts Farnborough International Limited at the end of a busy trade week.

The biennial event is in its 45th year and it is hoped the show will go from strength to strength in years to come, after its popularity dipped to a low in 2004.

A bumper crop of the world’s most impressive aircraft helped swell the crowds of business delegates who have attended since Monday.

VIPs from across the area attended, including Rushmoor mayor John Marsh. The event also received the royal seal of approval when Prince Andrew arrived on Tuesday.

It is thought that by the end of Friday, more than 133,000 trade visitors will have passed through the gates at Farnborough Airport.

Another 120,000 visitors are expected on the public days tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday.

Advance ticket sales for the event — the world’s largest airshow — were up by half on the 2004 show.

More than 120 new exhibitors have bought up exhibition space in the five large halls put up especially for the event, bringing in businesses from 36 countries and hopes of brisk trade.

Showing off aviation innovations and technologies, the numerous companies did their best to canvass for new business over the five days.

Helping ensure renewed interest in the event, organisers had secured appearances from some of the most exciting aircraft.

Early on Monday morning, a Red Arrows fly-past heralded the start of the show.

Dominating the airfield and ensuring a buzz on site was the 240ft-long, 80ft high Airbus A380. With a wingspan of nearly 262ft, the world’s first twin-aisle double decker dwarfed surrounding aircraft while on static display.

But the sheer scale of the aircraft became clear when it took to the skies at the beginning of the daily flying display, making its UK airshow debut.

Quieter than its sister aircraft the A340, the new Airbus plane glided gracefully through the skies above Farnborough, defying its immense size.

The peace was soon shattered however when the BAE Typhoon jet — the Eurofighter — shot into the skies to show off its capabilities.

The pace continued throughout the afternoon with displays of the SAAB Gripen, MIG 29 and Lockheed Martin F-16.

Also making an appearance for the first time, the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft wowed spectators with its unique design.

Lifting off as a helicopter, the aircraft tilts its rotors mid-air to become a plane. It is now being delivered to the US armed forces.

Hailing the show a success spokesman David Dorman  said visitors had topped expectations and that on Monday alone, business worth £4.4billion had taken place.

Despite the success during the week, the intense heat served to put a strain on facilities.

On Monday morning long queues of business delegates were forced to wait in the burning sun to enter the site.

The delays were blamed on a faulty security scanning machine at A Gate — one of the busiest entrances used by coaches, buses and cars to drop off large numbers of trade visitors.

Organisers promised to resolve the situation for

people attending throughout the week, and on the public days.

On-site firefighters had their first call of the show on Monday as temperatures in the 30s put pressure on generators providing power to the exhibition halls.

Mr Dorman confirmed a generator between halls two and three had caught fire, knocking out power to 50% of both the halls.

“The intense heat means there is no respite for the generators,” he said. “They are running at full capacity, which is a very, very heavy load on the system.”

lAdvance ticket sales for the public days tomorrow and Sunday are available at B Gate, from Paperweight newsagents at 76 Farnborough Road or via the Fleet and Aldershot tourist information centres.

On the day, purchases can be made at the entrance gates.

For more news and pictures of Farnborough International 2006 see this week's News