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Superb Aircraft Line-up promised for Farnborough International Airshow

In what is promising to be one of the biggest Farnborough International Airshows in recent history, the organisers – Farnborough International Limited - report that that over 160 aircraft of all types are scheduled to be on static/flying display during the week of the airshow. Further aircraft are expected to be confirmed in coming weeks, to bring this total even higher.

While the Airbus A380 double-deck long-range passenger airliner is destined to be the star attraction at this year’s Farnborough International Airshow as it makes its UK airshow debut, there are several other aircraft scheduled to appear for the first time. Among these is the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tilt rotor, which is now being delivered to the US Armed Forces.

Scheduled to make its only public appearance outside of its home base of RAF Waddington before entering full operational service, the RAF’s Raytheon Sentinel R1 ASTOR surveillance aircraft together with mobile ground stations will be on static display.

Also making its international debut at Farnborough International Airshow will be the MiG-29OVT jet fighter from the MiG RAC (Russian Aircraft Corporation). This is the thrust-vectoring technology demonstration prototype for possible later MiG fighter products such as the MiG-35. Prior to its appearance at Farnborough it has only been seen publicly once at the MAKS 2005 Airshow in Moscow.

Also being displayed at Farnborough International Airshow for the first time are four business jets (see separate news release) that are part of the expanded corporate aviation presence at the airshow that numbers some 30 aircraft in total.

Commenting on this year’s aircraft line up, Trevor Sidebottom, Managing Director of Farnborough International stated: “ We listened to our exhibitors after the 2004 airshow and reduced static aircraft display prices by 50%. This, coupled with our determined drive to encourage more corporate aircraft has led to the biggest line up of display aircraft for several years.”

The current list of aircraft being displayed by category is as follows:

Commercial airliners

In addition to the A380, Airbus will be showing its A319 single-aisle jet and the A340-600 long-range widebody, while Boeing is exhibiting the Boeing 777-300ER in the colours of EVA Air of Taiwan.

The regional airliner sector is represented by ATR, which is demonstrating an ATR-42 turboprop, Bombardier which is showing its Dash 8-Q400 turboprop and CRJ-900 regional jet and Embraer which has its ERJ-190 regional jetliner on display.

Utility, transport and special role aircraft

In addition to the Raytheon Sentinel R1, utility, transport and special role aircraft on display will be the Alenia C27J Spartan tactical military airlifter, the Britten-Norman Defender 4000 survelliance aircraft and the KDC-10 Global Airtanker developed by Global Airtanker Service LLC. Also on display will be the FRA Falcon electronic warfare simulation aircraft and an ATR-42MP Surveyor sea surveillance aircraft from Alenia.

Military fighter and trainer aircraft

The competitive nature of the international jet fighter market is reflected in the wide range of aircraft being displayed. From Western Europe the Eurofighter Typhoon, Tornado and Gripen are on display. From the USA, the Boeing F-15 Strike Eagle, Lockheed-Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon and Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet are all appearing.

Even more competitive is the military trainer market and no less than 11 examples of different training aircraft are on display at Farnborough International Airshow 2006. These range from the piston-powered Slingsby T67 Firefly, through three turboprop trainer offerings from Raytheon with the T6A and Pilatus with the PC-9M and PC-21. Jet trainers are represented by the Aermacchi S211A, Aermacchi M-311 and Hindustan Aeronautics HJT36 at the basic and intermediate level, with the Aermacchi M-346, Yakovlev Yak-130, Aero Vodochody L-159B and BAE Systems Hawk AJT at the advanced jet trainer/lead in fighter trainer level.

Helicopters

Apart from the V-22 Osprey, there are a number of other interesting rotary winged aircraft on display at this year’s airshow. From India, Hindustan Aeronautics is displaying its Dhruv Advanced light helicopter, while Europe’s NH Industries is displaying the NH-90 multi-role helicopter. Finnmeccanica is showing its Westland AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, while AugustaWestland is displaying the AW139 6-ton medium twin helicopter, the A109 LUH military light twin utility helicopter and the A129 Mangusta multi-role combat helicopter.

US Department of Defense and Royal Air Force

In addition to the trade display aircraft, the US Department of Defense has once again provided a strong display of aircraft assets to include the Lockheed Martin C130J military transport, the Lockheed Martin P3C Orion AIP (Anti-Surface Warfare Improvement Program), the Boeing C-17 airlifter and Boeing KC-135R aerial tanker. Helicopter assets provided will be the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow and the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk. Each day there will be a fly past of the Rockwell B1B Lancer bomber.

For the final weekend of the airshow the Royal Air Force is providing a range of aircraft for both static and flying display. These include the Typhoon, Tornado GR4 and Harrier fighter/attack aircraft, Tucano trainer, Dominie navigation trainer and Sea King, Chinook, Puma and Merlin helicopters. There also will be helicopter display teams, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the world-famous Red Arrows aerobatic team.

Also, among the many attractions on the final weekend will be displays by the Grace Spitfire, the Cassault Pair Formula One Air Racers and a charity-raising Jet Provost display.

The biennial Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) is the world’s largest aerospace event attracting exhibitors from more than 30 countries and over 130,000 trade visitors. The FIA offers a highly effective platform to showcase a wide range of products and services and presents a valuable opportunity to trade with the global aerospace market. FIA, 2006 will be held at the Farnborough Aerodrome in Hampshire from 17th to 23rd July, including public days on Saturday the 22nd and Sunday 23rd July. Get more information at www.farnborough.com