Farnborough, United Kingdom. Beginning Monday July 23, for the next five days up till July 26, the eyes of the world would turn to Farnborough to take the pulse of the industry. Many industry watchers describe this pulse as regular but erratic.
This year 1,262 exhibitors from 44 countries, 27 international country pavilions will attract more than 250 civil, military and space delegations besides app. 80,0000 visitors.
Attracting the senior leadership of commercial aerospace and defence companies and their customers, the air show brings together military delegations, governmental representatives, state and geographical business development agencies, airlines, aircraft owners, lessors and investor groups.
This year the air show will be focused around six key industry themes:
- Space
- Defence
- Sustainability
- Innovation
- Future Flight
- Workforce
Farnborough 2024 offers a global stage to showcase the latest aviation trends and innovations, and an excellent platform to foster prosperous collaboration and partnership. Let’s have a sneak peek at what the Farnborough may offer its visitors, this year.
Commercial aircraft
The world’s ‘big three’ commercial aircraft manufacturers will once again be in large-scale attendance at FIA2024, along with regional aircraft specialist, ATR. However, given the torrid time that Boeing has had since the Alaska Air 737 MAX 9 incident back in January 2024, the Chicago-based company’s presence will be decidedly muted compared to previous Farnborough appearances.
The world’s ‘big three’ commercial aircraft manufacturers will once again be in large-scale attendance at FIA2024, along with regional aircraft specialist, ATR. However, given the torrid time that Boeing has had since the Alaska Air 737 MAX 9 incident back in January 2024, the Chicago-based company’s presence will be comparatively muted
There will be no attendance at FIA2024 from either the 737 MAX family or from a 777X demonstrator, both of which would have been contenders to draw much of the attention for civil aircraft at the show. Instead, the company’s presence in the market will be represented by a sole 787-9 to be displayed in the colours of Doha-based Qatar Airways. The airline currently operates 18 of the type with a further 12 on order.
Airbus, meanwhile, will be attending en masse, with a host of commercial planes being displayed alongside several military aircraft including helicopters. The highlights of the European plane maker’s presence are expected to be Air India A350-900 to be displayed in the static area along with an A220-200 ultimately destined for US carrier JetBlue.
Flying a display on each of the days of the show will be an A330-900neo wearing the livery of Virgin Atlantic, which currently operates five of the type. Also flying will be the manufacturer’s A321XLR demonstrator, the first of which is shortly to be delivered to launch customer Iberia, which will use its first aircraft on flights between Madrid, Boston, and Washington starting in November 2024.
With global sales for the type starting to speed up, Brazilian manufacturer Embraer will once again be bringing its 195-E2 demonstrator to FIA2024. Accompanying it will be its E-freighter variant, which was launched in July 2022 and which the company will be hoping to capture more sales at the show.
Lastly, on the airliner side of the show, ATR will be bringing two versions of its popular regional turboprops to Farnborough – the latest ATR72-600 in passenger configuration plus a dedicated freighter variant, the ATR72-600F. The latter of these will be flying in the daily flying display.
Attracting the senior leadership of commercial aerospace and defence companies and their customers, the Farnborough air show brings together military delegations, governmental representatives, state and geographical business development agencies, airlines, aircraft owners, lessors and investor groups
Military transport and fast jets
Where once it was largely the case that certain aircraft manufacturers specialised in military aircraft while others concentrated on building commercial planes, such lines have become much more blurred in the modern age – a point that is borne out by the military aircraft offering at FIA2024.
Airbus will be displaying both its twin-prop C295 and quad-prop A400M military transport planes, the latter being a Royal Air Force (RAF) example. On the larger side, one of the RAF’s A330 MRTT (multi-role tanker transport) aircraft is scheduled to perform a flypast on each of the show days between Monday and Thursday although this is yet to be confirmed. Four of these have just been ordered by the Royal Saudi Air Force in the lead-up to the show.
Boeing will also be represented on the military side of the show, although only fleetingly, the company’s P-8 Poseidon aerial surveillance platform (based on the popular Boeing 737-800) will be displayed on the ground at FIA2024 – a US Navy example.
Embraer is bringing its C-390 Millenium military transport aircraft to both the static display and the flying display (although it is only currently listed to fly on Tuesday, July 23, 2024). The C-390 is a versatile, medium-sized transport aircraft powered by a pair of turbofan engines and is the heaviest aircraft the Brazilian plane-maker has designed and built to date.
The aircraft is already in service with the governments/militaries of Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, and the Netherlands, with outstanding orders from Austria and South Korea.
In terms of fast jets appearing at FIA2024, several examples will no doubt be turning heads as they perform aerial displays, subject to any late alterations to the flying programme.
With global sales for the type starting to speed up, Brazilian manufacturer Embraer will once again be bringing its 195-E2 demonstrator to FIA2024. Accompanying it will be its E-freighter variant, which was launched in July 2022
Firstly, the Lockheed Martin F-35 will appear on the first and last days of the show to demonstrate its vertical take-off landing (VTOL) as well as conventional flying capabilities. Capable of flying at around 1,250 mph (2,000 kph), the aircraft is the most advanced single-crewed fighter jet in the world today.
Boeing will also be bringing an F-15QA to the show. The first of these aircraft, developed for an order of 35 jets from the Qatar’s Emiri Air Force, was delivered in 2021. The F-15QA will feature both in the static display and is due to display in the air on each day of the show.
Meanwhile, Leonardo will display an example of its M-346 light combat aircraft on the ground every day. The show will also see displays from the likes of the General Dynamics F-16 operated by the Danish Air Force. The instantly recognizable red and white jets will feature in the static display as well as flying on each of the show days.
Another set of red fast jets due to appear are the unmistakable BAe Systems Hawk T1 trainers of the RAF elite aerial display team, the Red Arrows. The team is due to open proceedings at FIA2024 sometime on Monday, July 22, 2024.
The last red and white small jets to look out for will be the Turkish Aerospace Industries Hürjet. This dual-seat jet training aircraft is a single-engine supersonic advanced training aircraft that made its first flight on April 25, 2023. The Turkish Air Force intends to use these new trainers to replace its Northrop T-38 trainers and perform a close air support role alongside its current F-16s.
Airbus will be displaying both its twin-prop C295 and quad-prop A400M military transport planes. Boeing will also be represented on the military side of the show, the company’s P-8 Poseidon aerial surveillance platform will be displayed on the ground at FIA2024. Embraer is bringing its C-390 Millenium military transport aircraft to both the static display and the flying display
The best of the rest
Falling into the ‘miscellaneous’ category although each holding very much its own unique space in the aerospace industry is a myriad of other aircraft that will either be part of the static display or take to the air to be put through its paces as part of the flying schedule.
Fixed-wing aircraft on display will be the latest model of the legendary Gulfstream Aerospace G-series of executive jets, the G700. The model being displayed at the show will be one of the first batch of two G700s that were delivered to Doha-based Qatar Airways Executive in May 2024, with a further eight on order.
Coming down the list in terms of scale is the Textron King Air. Fully developed from the original Beechcraft King Air that was first designed in 1964, the latest versions of the popular twin-prop aircraft serve a variety of roles. From corporate and air taxi work to regular passenger flights, and from medevac and search and rescue to maritime patrol and coastguard operations, the King Air has done it all over the past six decades.
Lastly, Embraer’s Super Tucano training aircraft will feature in the static area only. Built as a basic trainer for transitioning pilots from propeller to fast jet aircraft, various air forces and other armed forces worldwide use the turbine-powered Super Tucano.
Helicopter highlights
Representing rotary-winged aircraft at FIA2024 are helicopters of all shapes and sizes. The largest example will be the iconic twin-rotor CH-47 Chinook that will perform in the air on each day of the event, operated by the UK Joint Aviation Command section of the Ministry of Defence.
Airbus Helicopters will bring its H160 multi-purpose twin-engine helicopter to the static area, described by the company as its “most technologically advanced helicopter”. At the same time, Leonardo will attend with its A149 model.
Lastly, specialist UK helicopter training and maintenance support organization Heli-operations will bring a former UK armed forces Sea King plus an AW139 helicopter, which it uses for coast guard and maritime search and rescue training operations.
Despite the hurdles presented, Farnborough is a beacon of hope and progress, especially for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) companies. The excitement around this opportunity is palpable, as companies specialising in MRO prepare to expand facilities, hire skilled workers, and invest in advanced technologies
Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul
Despite the hurdles presented, Farnborough is a beacon of hope and progress, especially for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) companies. With fleets of grounded aircraft taking to the skies once again and a host of new deliveries on the horizon, a massive wave of MRO activity is expected to sweep across the industry. The excitement around this opportunity is palpable, as companies specialising in MRO prepare to expand facilities, hire skilled workers, and invest in advanced technologies.
While artificial intelligence continues to permeate various sectors, MRO remains a labour-intensive operation, characterised by the need for hands-on expertise. The installed fleet of aircraft, many of which are decades old, requires specialised knowledge to maintain and upgrade. This presents a unique challenge: not only must companies locate and train technicians familiar with modern technologies, but they must also cultivate skilled workers who can navigate the intricacies of traditional aircraft systems. Farnborough offers a platform for these organisations to showcase their capabilities, share best practices, and look for innovative solutions to workforce challenges.
Raksha Anirveda's editorial desk team brings in the collective experience of creative professionals - a fine mix of senior copy editors, writers, proofreaders and designers. Working as a team, they continuously create, manage, and curate content to sustain the magazine's profile and reputation in line with market trends and achieve magazine's goal.
