News

Farnborough Airshow to be 'stunning and patriotic'

By Tim Harris
May 16, 2012

THE Farnborough Airshow 2012 has been officially launched and this year’s line-up announced.

Visitors will witness a five-hour flying demonstration and a static aircraft display.

Amanda Stainer, exhibitions and events director for Farnborough International Ltd (FIL), organisers of the airshow, said: “This year’s Farnborough International Airshow will be the best ever.

“The weekend public days will be absolutely packed with entertainment and interest. As well as varied and fascinating static aircraft, there will be stunning air displays each afternoon.

“The amazing Red Arrows, Breitling Jet team, The Blades, vintage flying machines, jets, aerobatic formations and wing-walkers will take to the skies to thrill the crowds.

“To mark the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s accession there will also be a patriotic flying display.”

The majority of the trade halls will be closed during the public weekend.

FIL has said this move will enable show organisers to channel more energy and resources into the public entertainment facilities.

FIL said the trade show exhibitors’ customers were mainly big businesses and not the general public, and it was very expensive to man the stands for two extra days, while also paying for staff accommodation.

Members of the public visiting the show, on July 14 and 15, will see what is being billed as "the future of space travel", at an exhibition by Virgin Galactic.

Another feature of the 2012 event will be an Olympics exhibition called ‘In The Zone’, where visitors can discover how their bodies work during sport, activity, movement and rest.

Other attractions include Team Extreme, a skateboard, BMX and inline skate display team, Funkstylerz, the specialist dance group, and the Hornby Airfix Roadshow.

The airshow’s Innovation Zone will host multiple exhibits and demonstrations, and showcase potential future aviation technology.

The zone is also the stage for the unveiling of Yateley School’s winning aircraft in the Schools Build-a-Plane Challenge, run by Boeing and the Royal Aeronautical Society.

On Friday, July 13, the day before the public show, 10,000 young people aged 11 to 21 have been invited to a careers fair, which will include conferences and seminars.

Tickets are now on sale for this year’s Farnborough Airshow, and children under 16 are free when accompanied by a ticket-buying adult.

To buy tickets visit the website at www.farnborough.com.

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Most recent user comments 7 of 7

I can't wait! Watch the practice flights and week day stuff from my house. BBQ at a friends close to the show on saturday then attend on Sunday. I do like the trade hall stuff, but the wife has ZERO interest in them!

My dad used to take me during the week so could see all the trade halls and see things like the B2 stealth bomber that normally wouldnt appear on the public days.

The Red Arrows will be simply amazing as usual and end the day perfectly. Great show indeed and its on my doorstep :)

HappyHammer, Farnborough
20/06/2012 at 17:06

There are better air displays in this country, closing the halls take away what set this apart.

But, as I don't have kids that want to come with me I can save the £35 and watch the planes from outside as there is no point paying to get in now. Bonus.

Duffnut, Farnborough
08/06/2012 at 17:16

Would help the residents and businesses financially, for this specific benefit, we welcome such event.

Dinez taxi Farnborough
22/05/2012 at 20:15

Agreed with Crispy, the commercial stalls was the thing that set Farnborough air shows apart from the rest of them. Not all of them are particularly exciting to the average Joe (companies specialising in nuts and bolts etc) but there are also plenty that have engaging displays, many of which will inspire the designers/scientists of tomorrow.

FrimleyRoadRob, Camberley
22/05/2012 at 12:47

Bit dissapointed that the trade halls will be closed on public days, Farnborough was a good window for all to see the advances in aviation technology, but can also see the point of view for the companies involved (expenses etc), but as this is the case then I will be giving it a miss this year as its so expensive to get in and less on offer

Crispy, Farnborough
18/05/2012 at 19:45

This will be a great oppotunity to give the unemployed youth of our borough a chance of real employment if only on a tempory basis and the chance to earn a proper wage for the job, to often these jobs are snapped up by employed people who take a couple of weeks holiday to earn extra cash. I am sure that the Job Centre and RBC could come up with a scheem to set this in motion. The question has to be asked. If not why not?

UKR
17/05/2012 at 08:03

I am not sure how it is going to be any more patriotic than the BoB flypast and of course the glorious Red Arrows but I await to see it with interest.

Of course then there is Avro Vulcan, which is ONLY in existance thanks to the labour of love and donations. Likewise for FAST Muesum and heritage site. I am well aware of the RAE people of past and present campaigning away corageosly for that to happen.

No doubt the naysayers will now readily step forward, if many haven't done so already, to bask in the limelight and glory of it all.

Did anyone allow a flightworthy Concorde to exist? Not even Sir Richard Branson could keep it going. Where was the British Government? Where was HM's Opposition?