Geoff Thomas

This year's Farnborough airshow running (7-13 September) will be the biggest of the decade and if you haven't already booked space, you're too late because it's sold out and the waiting list is growing by the hour.

Although Farnborough International '98 celebrates the event's golden anniversary the organisers say that the anniversary won't be a theme of the trade days.

It will be commemorated once the flying display opens to the general public.

Speaking at Asian Aerospace this week, David Marshall, director general of the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC), says now that the show's site is secured for the foreseeable future, it will be possible to begin transforming the site by adding more permanent buildings in place of some of the current temporary structures.

Larger

Marshall says this year's show will be around 12% larger than 1996, with display space covering 65,000 m2.

The theme will be "Youth in Aerospace", concentrating on ensuring that the British industry encourages the best young people to study engineering.

"Emphasising this youthful theme, a careers centre will be operated at the show, in conjunction with the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) and a weekend seminar on jobs in engineering will be held at London's Royal Holloway College," Marshall says.

It looks as though some of the "stay-aways" who have missed recent shows have decided to return.

Strength

One of the undoubted stars of the static park will be Britain's world land speed record-holding Thrust SSC jet-car, joining a plethora of historic aircraft to mark the show's 50th birthday.

Other attractions will be a cyber cafe, supported by Flight International and Air Transport Intelligence (ATI), and a two-channel Farnborough International TV programme.

SBAC head of exhibitions Kim Scott explains that the organisers have attempted to address all the points raised at the last show.

"For instance, the airfield's communications and IT systems have been completely updated, with more power and a much larger number of phone lines.

And although it's not firmed up yet, the SBAC is trying to put a deal together with the organisers of Europe's largest military airshow - the Royal International Air Tattoo, currently held at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire - to run the two events consecutively and under the same banner, creating the world's biggest aviation event.

Source: Flight Daily News