Hampshire Tourist Guide - Articles
Farnborough International Airshow 2008
Innovation and commemoration will be the watchwords as the plans for the Farnborough International Airshow 2008. In a Janus-like manner, the world’s most iconic airshow, taking place from 14-20 July 2008 will be looking both back and forward as it celebrates the 100th anniversary of the first powered flight in Britain; its own 60th anniversary, and, moving forward, a series of exceptional innovations following sustained and significant investment and development in the show and its infrastructure.
History, celebration and the commemoration of ground-breaking and exceptional achievements in aviation will be the themes for the 2008 Farnborough International Airshow as two anniversaries of extraordinary significance are marked. At the 2008 airshow, we will be celebrating both the diamond anniversary of FIA and the centenary of the first ever recorded sustained flight from Farnborough airfield.
The Farnborough Airshow had its origins in an RAF Airshow which was held at Hendon in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1932, the Society of British Aerospace Companies held an exhibition at Hendon, which was intended to showcase the British aircraft industry. This show was staged again in 1946 at Radlett, and then moved to Farnborough in 1948, where the show has remained ever since. In the past sixty years, Farnborough has introduced a remarkable and spectacular range of aircraft and innovations, and represented the very best of the global aerospace market to the world. In the process, it has been supported by millions of exhibitors, trade and public visitors, facilitating billions of pounds worth of business to UK and overseas aerospace companies.
A deciding factor in the airshow moving to Farnborough in 1948 was its incomparable aviation pedigree, its inextricable links to the birth of flight and a close, continuous association with the history of man’s conquest of the skies. Man-carrying kites, airships and balloons had all taken off from the grass airfield since the early days of the twentieth century. In 1908, however, Farnborough witnessed its first ever manned flight: Samuel Cody, a US citizen, built the British Army Aeroplane No. 1 in 1908 and flew it on three occasions at Farnborough in that year. He flew 304 feet on 29th September and 200 feet on the 14th October. On the third and final flight on 16th October he flew 1390 feet. The flight ended when the wing touched the ground as Cody attempted to turn, and the machine crashed. This has been taken to be the first sustained flight made in England.
The Farnborough International Airshow 2008 will be celebrating this centenary and its 60th anniversary in a number of ways. A spectacular cavalcade of iconic and historic aircraft has been lined up to provide a breathtaking flypast of the history of flight from its earliest days, incorporating some of the highlights of Farnborough Airshows over the years, including aircraft which appeared at the very first show back in 1948, as well as continuing the event’s tradition for innovation in showcasing the very latest in civil and military craft.
One of the most exciting aircraft which will be exhibited but not flown at the show is a replica of the Cody Flyer – the biplane with the 53 ft wingspan in which Samuel Cody made history above this very airfield. The Farnborough Air Sciences Trust (FAST) is building the Flyer in preparation for the October 2008 anniversary, and it is planned to be available for public display at the FIA. At the same time, FAST is currently building a Flyer flight simulator, which will give a fascinating insight for modern pilots and enthusiasts alike into how this remarkable craft took to the skies. The path of Cody’s first flight will also be marked out on the airfield for visitors to share in the history.
For the public days (Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 July), the emphasis is all on history, spectacle and exhilarating entertainment, with aircraft or footage from every decade of the first 100 years of flight, and a range of individual and team aerial performances. The displays will reflect five key periods of aerospace history. Representing World War One, will be a selection of aircraft from the Shuttleworth Trust. The ever popular Great War Display team will also be flying their replica WWI planes and treating the crowds to their cheeky aerial antics. The World War Two period will be represented by a plethora of iconic military aircraft, including Lancasters, Spitfires, Hurricanes, a T5 Seafire and a Swordfish to stir hearts and minds. The Post-War will be of particular interest in 2008 as several historic aircraft types with a 1948 connection will be making a special appearance. A pair of Chrislea Superaces which flew at the 1948 show, and which are the only two planes of their kind still flying in the world, will be displayed, as will a Sea Fury and Sea Hawk, and a Prentice. A 1948 Auster and a Pembroke will form part of the display, as will a two-seater Spitfire, reflecting the fact that this type of training craft was introduced 60 years ago. The RAF will bring things right up to date with an incredible power display which will showcase all aspects of modern warfare from surveillance to troop landings, while modern large passenger airliners will also be flying. Glider phenomenon Guy Westlake will be returning by popular demand to thrill the crowds with his gravity defying, edge of seat flying; there will also be aerobatic teams; while the iconic Red Arrows will bring a weekend of unforgettable action to a spectacular close on Sunday evening.
Away from the aircraft, the event will have a real wow factor, with exhibitors, trade and public visitors alike invited to enjoy and experience the historical and celebratory flavour of the show, and take part in special activities, some of which will have a suitable diamond theme.
Tickets for the public days (Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 July 2008) are now on sale at the Farnborough website: www.farnborough.com/Tickets/PublicTickets Children under 16 will be admitted free when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult.
Speaking about the 2008 airshow, FIA Managing Director, Trevor Sidebottom, commented: “The Farnborough International Airshow in 2008 promises to be one of the most exciting and memorable shows in recent years. From a business perspective, we are looking to consolidate the commercial success of the 2006 show, using this as a platform from which to develop and grow the event. We are absolutely thrilled to be celebrating not one but two significant anniversaries for the aviation and aerospace sectors: our own Diamond Anniversary and the centenary of the first powered, sustained flight in Britain. To be able to commemorate Farnborough’s close, continuous association with innovation in aerospace from the very birth of flight to today and beyond is very special. FIA 2008 will have a real wow factor for all our visitors, whether they are exhibitors, trade delegates or members of the public, and we hope that they will all join us in taking part in our anniversary activities. The 14-20 July 2008 will be a truly fabulous week for everyone.”
Farnborough International Airshow 2008
History, celebration and the commemoration of ground-breaking and exceptional achievements in aviation will be the themes for the 2008 Farnborough International Airshow as two anniversaries of extraordinary significance are marked. At the 2008 airshow, we will be celebrating both the diamond anniversary of FIA and the centenary of the first ever recorded sustained flight from Farnborough airfield.
The Farnborough Airshow had its origins in an RAF Airshow which was held at Hendon in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1932, the Society of British Aerospace Companies held an exhibition at Hendon, which was intended to showcase the British aircraft industry. This show was staged again in 1946 at Radlett, and then moved to Farnborough in 1948, where the show has remained ever since. In the past sixty years, Farnborough has introduced a remarkable and spectacular range of aircraft and innovations, and represented the very best of the global aerospace market to the world. In the process, it has been supported by millions of exhibitors, trade and public visitors, facilitating billions of pounds worth of business to UK and overseas aerospace companies.
A deciding factor in the airshow moving to Farnborough in 1948 was its incomparable aviation pedigree, its inextricable links to the birth of flight and a close, continuous association with the history of man’s conquest of the skies. Man-carrying kites, airships and balloons had all taken off from the grass airfield since the early days of the twentieth century. In 1908, however, Farnborough witnessed its first ever manned flight: Samuel Cody, a US citizen, built the British Army Aeroplane No. 1 in 1908 and flew it on three occasions at Farnborough in that year. He flew 304 feet on 29th September and 200 feet on the 14th October. On the third and final flight on 16th October he flew 1390 feet. The flight ended when the wing touched the ground as Cody attempted to turn, and the machine crashed. This has been taken to be the first sustained flight made in England.
The Farnborough International Airshow 2008 will be celebrating this centenary and its 60th anniversary in a number of ways. A spectacular cavalcade of iconic and historic aircraft has been lined up to provide a breathtaking flypast of the history of flight from its earliest days, incorporating some of the highlights of Farnborough Airshows over the years, including aircraft which appeared at the very first show back in 1948, as well as continuing the event’s tradition for innovation in showcasing the very latest in civil and military craft.
One of the most exciting aircraft which will be exhibited but not flown at the show is a replica of the Cody Flyer – the biplane with the 53 ft wingspan in which Samuel Cody made history above this very airfield. The Farnborough Air Sciences Trust (FAST) is building the Flyer in preparation for the October 2008 anniversary, and it is planned to be available for public display at the FIA. At the same time, FAST is currently building a Flyer flight simulator, which will give a fascinating insight for modern pilots and enthusiasts alike into how this remarkable craft took to the skies. The path of Cody’s first flight will also be marked out on the airfield for visitors to share in the history.
For the public days (Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 July), the emphasis is all on history, spectacle and exhilarating entertainment, with aircraft or footage from every decade of the first 100 years of flight, and a range of individual and team aerial performances. The displays will reflect five key periods of aerospace history. Representing World War One, will be a selection of aircraft from the Shuttleworth Trust. The ever popular Great War Display team will also be flying their replica WWI planes and treating the crowds to their cheeky aerial antics. The World War Two period will be represented by a plethora of iconic military aircraft, including Lancasters, Spitfires, Hurricanes, a T5 Seafire and a Swordfish to stir hearts and minds. The Post-War will be of particular interest in 2008 as several historic aircraft types with a 1948 connection will be making a special appearance. A pair of Chrislea Superaces which flew at the 1948 show, and which are the only two planes of their kind still flying in the world, will be displayed, as will a Sea Fury and Sea Hawk, and a Prentice. A 1948 Auster and a Pembroke will form part of the display, as will a two-seater Spitfire, reflecting the fact that this type of training craft was introduced 60 years ago. The RAF will bring things right up to date with an incredible power display which will showcase all aspects of modern warfare from surveillance to troop landings, while modern large passenger airliners will also be flying. Glider phenomenon Guy Westlake will be returning by popular demand to thrill the crowds with his gravity defying, edge of seat flying; there will also be aerobatic teams; while the iconic Red Arrows will bring a weekend of unforgettable action to a spectacular close on Sunday evening.
Away from the aircraft, the event will have a real wow factor, with exhibitors, trade and public visitors alike invited to enjoy and experience the historical and celebratory flavour of the show, and take part in special activities, some of which will have a suitable diamond theme.
Tickets for the public days (Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 July 2008) are now on sale at the Farnborough website: www.farnborough.com/Tickets/PublicTickets Children under 16 will be admitted free when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult.
Speaking about the 2008 airshow, FIA Managing Director, Trevor Sidebottom, commented: “The Farnborough International Airshow in 2008 promises to be one of the most exciting and memorable shows in recent years. From a business perspective, we are looking to consolidate the commercial success of the 2006 show, using this as a platform from which to develop and grow the event. We are absolutely thrilled to be celebrating not one but two significant anniversaries for the aviation and aerospace sectors: our own Diamond Anniversary and the centenary of the first powered, sustained flight in Britain. To be able to commemorate Farnborough’s close, continuous association with innovation in aerospace from the very birth of flight to today and beyond is very special. FIA 2008 will have a real wow factor for all our visitors, whether they are exhibitors, trade delegates or members of the public, and we hope that they will all join us in taking part in our anniversary activities. The 14-20 July 2008 will be a truly fabulous week for everyone.”
Farnborough International Airshow 2008