The Farnborough International Airshow took place over July 16
to 22 and saw the value of deals reach $192bn, $67.5bn up on
the event two years ago. There was also a rise in trade visitors of
nearly 10% with more than 80,000 trade visitors passing through
the gates. Over 1,400 commercial aircraft were ordered at the
show with Boeing coming out on top between the industry’s two
heavyweights. The US manufacturer secured commitments for 673
aircraft, while the equivalent gure for Airbus was 431. The aircraft
static park featured more exhibits than for many years, although
this made photography more difficult as many were parked close to
each other.
A number of aircraft made their Farnborough debuts and included
the A350-1000, Boeing 737 MAX 7, Mitsubishi MRJ90, Gulfstream
G600, A321neo (easyJet’s initial example) and Airbus presentedthe A220-300 – the rst appearance since the Bombardier C Series
was renamed. In the military sector Leonardo displayed an Italian
Air Force P-72A maritime patrol aircraft and its M-346FA ghter
attack variant for the rst time at the Hampshire air eld.
An unlikely highlight of the ying display, and also making its
show debut, was the Lockheed Martin LM-100J, which performed
an almost vertical climb and roll! Another impressive sight was a
y-through of a T2 Aviation Boeing 727 spraying water (rather than
the usual dispersant) over the runway in formation with four Extra
300s from sister company The Blades. On the Tuesday there was
also a yby from an RAF F-35B Lightning and Typhoon.
The show’s success is evidence that the aerospace industry is
in good health, but there was also an air of uncertainty due to the
ongoing Brexit negotiations.http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 5
FARNBOROUGH REPORT
UK Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson
revealed a next-generation ghter jet mock-
up at the show on July 16. The Tempest
ghter concept is part of the new national
Combat Air Strategy. He outlined the plan,
which was publicly unveiled for the rst
time, in front of the combat aircraft concept
model that has been developed by UK
industry in collaboration with the Ministry of
Defence (MOD).
The plan reinforces the commitment in
the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security
Review to deliver the Future Combat
Air System Technology Initiative (FCAS
TI). The government, in partnership
with industry, is taking steps to grow
existing world-leading design engineering
capacity and skills, ensuring the UK
continues to be at the cutting edge of
combat air technology.
The concept aircraft has been put
together by rms including BAE Systems,
MBDA and Rolls-Royce, which have joined
together with the RAF Rapid Capabilities
Office to form ‘Team Tempest’ to pursue the
opportunity.The MOD will now set up a dedicated
team to deliver the combat air acquisition
programme. It will produce a business
case by the end of the year, and have initial
conclusions on international partners by next
summer, with engagement with potential
partners beginning immediately.
Early decisions around how to acquire
the capability will be con rmed by the end
of 2020, before nal investment decisions
are made by 2025. The aim is then for a
next-generation platform to have operational
capability by 2035.Tempest Concept UnveiledBAE Systems unveiled its
Tempest next-generation
ghter aircraft mock-up.Airbus has rebranded the Bombardier C Series with the CS100 becoming the A220-100 and CS300 the A220-300 (pictured). Since doing so JetBlue
signed an MoU for 60 -300s and at the show an order for another 60 was placed for a future US carrier. All photos Key-Dino Carrara unless statedFantastic Farnborough