Don't look to the flightline for all of the most exciting flying at this year's Farnborough International Airshow - some of the most interesting aircraft will actually be flying indoors.
Hall 3 is hosting the UK's first indoor flying display featuring micro unmanned aerial system (UAS) demonstrations from US-based Aurora Flight Sciences, Air 2 Air, the Aeryon Scout quad-rotor mini-helicopter from the Canada's Aeryon Labs the Israeli MicroB micro-UAV by Blue Bird, Bonningtons Surveyors and others.
Show organisers say the purpose-built area - complete with open flying area and micro-UAS obstacle course - is arranged to allow show-goers to drop in, see flight demonstrations, view the aircraft up close and get some advice from experts in the field at the adjacent seminar area. Netting encloses the flight area to ensure safety.
EuroUSC, Europe's leading authority on light UAS operations and airworthiness of systems up to 150kg (330lb), worked with Farnborough 2010 officials to put the dedicated demonstration and information area together.
Throughout the week, EuroUSC Centre Director Andre Clot and his team will give regular presentations on developing safe and cost-effective commercial UAS operations based on the latest regulations. Manufacture, operator issues and EuroUSC pilot qualification programmes will also be discussed.
Because the UASs are so quiet, demonstrations will be ongoing daily, say show organisers, with morning flights being repeated in the afternoon and no danger of entirely missing a particular aircraft's display or getting to see the machines up close.
A drop-in advice clinic will run from 12:00 to 16:00 daily, with EuroUSC experts on hand to answer questions and provide information on operator programmes, regulations and other UAS information. Visitors can also pre-book time clinic time by emailing requests to admin@eurousc.com. The dedicated UAS space is also adjacent to the Association for Unmanned Vechicle Systems International (AUVSI) booth (D20) and Aurora Flight Sciences, EuroUSC and Bonnington Surveyors also have booths on-site within the dedicated UAS area.
- All the latest news, video and images from the 2010 Farnborough air show - New this year, live streaming video of each day's flying display
Source: Flight Daily News
