Organisers launched the Farnborough Airshow this week with a promise that the show’s 60th anniversary event will be the biggest and best yet.

Tuesday’s preview, which included a flypast by a formation of Falcon 20 jets and a display by aerobatics team The Blades, comes two months before the show officially opens for business on July 14.

Work is already well underway in preparation for the show, for which organiser Farnborough International expects a record number of visitors and exhibitors.

As well as celebrating its diamond anniversary, the 2008 show is designed to reflect the centenary of British aviation, 100 years on from Samuel Cody’s historic first flight on Farnborough Common.

Trevor Sidebottom, managing director of Farnborough International, said people living near the airfield were proud that Farnborough was put on the map by the show’s global reputation.

"The whole idea of the show is to provide a shop window for the UK aviation industry, but we are aiming to present something for the local community as well," he said.

"If you mention Farnborough anywhere in the world, people immediately identify the place with the air show.

"We are seeing a growth in the public weekend, we are seeing a growth in the industry days and it is here to stay."

Mr Sidebottom, who is due to hand over the reigns later this year to new chief executive Shaun Ormrod, told the assembled media that 2008 would be "a really special event".

"We are keen to build on the commercial success of the 2006 show, presenting an even bigger and better event than ever before," he said.

"Central to this has been the look and feel of the show. There has been considerable redevelopment of the site in the last 12 months or so, and that has resulted not only in the Five building (the £3m permanent exhibition centre opened earlier this year) but also in a new permanent office for Farnborough International.

"Everything is in place for a record-breaking year. We have the highest number of exhibitors ever and more participating countries than ever before."

Mr Sidebottom promised that plans were in place to ease the traffic headaches for those driving to the weekend public open days.

Organisers boast the show is almost a fifth larger than the 2006 event in terms of exhibition space, with more than 1,500 exhibitors.