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2018 Farnborough Airshow

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2018 Farnborough Airshow
Name2018 Farnborough Airshow
CaptionStatic park and crowd at the 2018 Farnborough event
Date16–22 July 2018
LocationFarnborough Aerodrome, Hampshire, England
GenreAirshow, Trade fair, Aerospace exhibition
OrganizerFarnborough International Ltd

2018 Farnborough Airshow The 2018 Farnborough Airshow was an international aerospace trade exhibition held at Farnborough Aerodrome in Hampshire, featuring manufacturers, airlines, governments, and defence suppliers. The event combined a public Airshow with a trade week that attracted commercial orders, test demonstrations, and official delegations from multiple countries. Major aerospace corporations, defence ministries, and civil aviation authorities used the platform to announce deals, display new aircraft, and conduct flying displays.

Overview

The event took place from 16 to 22 July 2018 at Farnborough Aerodrome, organized by Farnborough International Ltd, and followed the biennial sequence that includes Paris Air Show and Dubai Airshow. Attendees included delegations from the United Kingdom, United States, France, Germany, China, India, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates. Notable participating manufacturers and institutions included Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Rolls-Royce Holdings, Pratt & Whitney, GE Aviation, Bombardier Aerospace, Embraer, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and the Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom). The show combined static displays on the flightline with demonstration sorties coordinated with the Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom) and regional air traffic control.

Exhibitors and Aircraft Highlights

Exhibitors ranged from OEMs to suppliers: Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier Aerospace, Embraer, ATR (aircraft manufacturer), COMAC, Antonov, Dassault Aviation, Sikorsky Aircraft, Bell Textron, Leonardo S.p.A., BAE Systems, Thales Group, Honeywell International Inc., Safran, MTU Aero Engines, GE Aviation, and Rolls-Royce Holdings showcased platforms and systems. Commercial airliners on static display included the Airbus A350 XWB, Airbus A320neo family, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and Boeing 737 MAX. Business jets such as the Bombardier Global 7500, Gulfstream G650, and Embraer Legacy 450 appeared alongside turboprops like the ATR 72 and regional jets including the Embraer E-Jet E2 family. Military exhibits featured the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, Eurofighter Typhoon, C-130 Hercules, Boeing CH-47 Chinook derivatives, and rotary-wing entries from Leonardo and Sikorsky. Suppliers highlighted engines and avionics: demonstrations included Pratt & Whitney PW1000G, GE9X, Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 TEN, and avionics suites from Thales Group and Rockwell Collins.

Demonstrations and Flying Display

Flying displays combined aerobatic teams and corporate demonstrations, with appearances by the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, civilian demonstration teams, and solo displays by types such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Boeing 787 Dreamliner test sorties. Helicopter demonstrations came from Sikorsky and Leonardo S.p.A. platforms, while historic aircraft and preservation organisations such as the Shuttleworth Collection and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight contributed heritage flypasts. Test pilots and demonstration crews from Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, and Embraer conducted manufacturer test flights and performance showcases coordinated with regional control authorities.

Commercial Orders and Industry Impact

The show was a venue for order announcements, memoranda of understanding, and partnerships among carriers, lessors, and OEMs. Notable commitments involved airlines and leasing companies including Air Lease Corporation, GECAS, Avolon, and national carriers from IAG (airline group), Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Lufthansa Group placing or announcing orders and options for Airbus A321neo, Airbus A350, Boeing 787, and Boeing 737 MAX families. Agreements extended to freighter conversions and regional fleet updates involving FedEx Express, UPS Airlines, and cargo operators. Supplier contracts and R&D partnerships were revealed among Rolls-Royce Holdings, GE Aviation, Pratt & Whitney, Honeywell International Inc., Thales Group, and Safran for engines, avionics, and sustainable aviation fuel trials. Defence procurement discussions included delegations from the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), United States Department of Defense, French Ministry of Armed Forces, and other defence ministries engaging with Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon Technologies.

Safety, Incidents, and Security

Safety oversight involved the Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom), local police forces such as Hampshire Constabulary, and national security agencies coordinating perimeter security and airspace management. Incidents were limited but included technical ground issues and the standard risk management responses handled by Farnborough Airport operations, emergency services, and exhibitor technical teams from Airbus and Boeing. Aviation regulators and certification bodies including European Union Aviation Safety Agency personnel monitored demonstrations and compliance. Cybersecurity briefings and export-control discussions engaged representatives from UK Export Finance and defence export authorities.

Attendance, Economy, and Media Coverage

Attendance combined trade delegations, industry professionals, and public days, with thousands of delegates from airlines, lessors, MRO operators, and government delegations including representatives from Saudi Arabia, India, China, Japan, and South Korea. Economic impact assessments involved regional bodies and business groups such as the Department for International Trade (United Kingdom), local chambers of commerce, and tourism organisations in Hampshire. Media coverage was provided by international outlets and specialist publications including FlightGlobal, Aviation Week, Jane's Information Group, BBC News, and Reuters with live reporting, analysis of orderbooks, and technical reviews.

Legacy and Aftermath

Outcomes from the show influenced fleet planning, procurement cycles, and technology development in the years that followed, informing decisions at Airbus, Boeing, Rolls-Royce Holdings, and GE Aviation and shaping procurement by airlines such as Lufthansa Group, Emirates, and Qatar Airways. The event reinforced Farnborough's role alongside Paris Air Show and Dubai Airshow as a major forum for aerospace commerce and diplomacy. Subsequent regulatory dialogues at the International Civil Aviation Organization and industry forums referenced demonstrations and announcements from the event when addressing certification, sustainability, and airspace integration.

Category:Airshows