Farnborough Airshow

The Farnborough International Airshow is a week-long event that combines a major trade exhibition for the aerospace and defence industries with a public airshow. The first five days (Monday to Friday) are dedicated exclusively to trade, with the final two days open to the public.

Flying occurs on all seven days, and there are also static displays of aircraft outside and booths and stands in the indoor exhibition halls. On the Saturday and Sunday most of the exhibitions halls are shut, but there is a funfair and children are admitted.

The event is held in mid-July in even-numbered years at Farnborough Airport in Hampshire, England; the next event will occur in 2014. It alternates with the Paris Air Show, which is held in odd-numbered years and has a similar format. Both shows are important events in the international aerospace and defence industry calendars, and provide an opportunity to demonstrate civilian and military aircraft to potential customers and investors. The shows are also used for the announcement of new developments and orders, and attract media coverage.

The UK show is organised by Farnborough International Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of ADS Group Limited (ADS). According to the organisers, the 2012 Farnborough show attracted 109,000 trade visitors over the first five days, and 100,000 public visitors on the Saturday and Sunday. Orders and commitments for 758 aircraft were announced, worth US$72 billion.

From 1996 to 2010, the show had its own official radio station operated by the staff and students of nearby Farnborough College of Technology, but it did not operate in 2012.

The Farnborough International Airshow is held in the same years as the Berlin Air Show, also known as the ILA, which is the other major event in the European aerospace business calendar.

History
The Farnborough Airshow has its origins in the annual RAF Airshow at Hendon from 1920 to 1937. On 27 June 1932, the Society of British Aircraft Constructors held an exhibition of 35 aircraft by 16 companies at Hendon as a showpiece for the British aircraft industry. After World War II, the show recommenced at Radlett (the site of Handley Page's airfield) in 1946 and was held there until 1948, when the show moved to its present location of Farnborough, Hampshire, home of the Royal Aircraft Establishment, about 30 mi south-west of central London. The headquarters of the UK's principal aerospace firm, BAE Systems, is also in Farnborough.

At the 1958 show, the Black Arrows executed a 22-plane formation loop This was a world record for the greatest number of aircraft looped in formation, and remains unbroken to this day.

Initially an annual event, the show has been biennial since 1962. It has become an international event that welcomes exhibitors from all over the world &mdash; with the exception, during the Cold War, of countries behind the Iron Curtain.

Dates
The 1948 show was held between 7 and 12 September; it was the first show held at Farnborough.

The 2010 show (19–25 July 2010) was the 47th edition of the Farnborough Airshow.

The 2012 airshow ran from 9 to 15 July 2012. The next airshow is planned for 14–20 July 2014.