What a week it's been for big business here at Farnborough ‘96. Britain's deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine had barely finished his opening speech when the first cheque books opened.
Boeing started the billion dollar ball rolling with 75 jetliner orders worth $7.5 billion.
There followed $2.5 billion firm orders for Airbus and the promise of a 60 aircraft order to be formally announced later this month.
The $375 million, 25-aircraft contract drawn up between Continental Express and Embraer created plenty of excitement, as did the Executive Jet Aviation contract to buy Cessna Citations, which runs into hundreds of millions of dollars.
The show ended with McDonnell Douglas announcing a $1.3 billion deal with Lufthansa to match their first day announcement of ten Explorer helicopters.
The manufacturers of engines, electrical systems, avionics and even seat covers all reported successes.
The glut of multi-million dollar deals signed and sealed at Farnborough has made it one of the most financially successful Shows ever.
In the halls, too, business has been brisk. Mark Hepworth from Sundstrand Aerospace says: "We've had an excellent show. Customer attendance on the stand has been better than expected and we have been able to continue vital business discussions."
Farnborough airshow has brought lots of exposure and publicity to debut firm Elbit. The Romanian firm, which carries out the upgrade to the MiG-21 has had lots of interest in Hall 1/D34.
The downside of the show, though, is the telephone system as program director Menachem Bargev says: "The telephone system here is in bad shape, we are having big problems communicating."
Pilkington Aerospace has also had an excellent show.
According to Jacqueline Sutton, sales and marketing manager: "There has been a great presence, especially in the attack helicopter side of the business - an area we are moving into in a big way. Although we were in a better position last year this does not seem to have stopped people finding and visiting us."
Inco Alloys has also had no problem attracting the crowds: "We are very pleased with the show.
"The facilities are miles better. The layout, the halls - everything has been spiked-up, even the chalets are better, they seem to have a better view of the static stands and to be of a more pleasing design," explains industry manager GJ Lewis. "One minor complaint is that there are lots of people who want to be able to sit outside on a bench or two - there really is no where to sit down outside or places for non-exhibitors to buy a drink of coffee."
Martin Brodie from Rolls-Royce says: "Because of the new open-plan structure of the exhibition hall, we have been able to re-design our stand and display 19 different types of aero engine - the most ever exhibited by a single company. As a result, visiting delegations have shot up by more than 30% on Farnborough ‘94."
Sergey Koksharov from the Rostvertol stand says: "I'll definitely be going home to Russia with a smile on my face. A lot of people have visited our stand and business has been good. Our interpreters are worn out."
VIP guests visiting Farnborough ‘96 have included HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Michael of Kent, NATO ambassadors, UK defence secretary Michael Portillo and his under secretary, the Earl Howe, and European chiefs of Air Staff.
Helene Cox from the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) says: "With well over $12 billion of contracts announced since the opening day, I fell we can say the event has been an outstanding success."
Source: Flight Daily News