Besides the magnificent static displays, Farnborough 2012 promises to have stunning aerobatic teams, high-end business jets, military craft, beautifying the London skies with their dazzling performances. It may once again serve as a platform for business deals and negotiations or set the stage for future agreements and pacts.

Farnborough 2010 was a success with orders worth $47 billion, 1,455 exhibitors and over 1,20,000 trade visitors, including 70 delegations from more than 40 countries. The show this year to be held from July 9 to 15, promises much more. Though the European economy is yet to recover from the downturn, the Farnborough organisers’ spirit seems to be quite high.

According to organisers, Farnborough 2012 will once again serve as a platform for about 1,400 exhibitors from the aerospace, defence, space and security sectors from across the world to showcase and demonstrate aircraft, equipment and technologies. The show is specifically designed to facilitate tailor-made and unrivalled opportunities to meet, negotiate and announce business transactions. It may once again serve as a platform for business deals and negotiations or at least set the stage for future agreements and pacts. And besides the spectacular static displays, there would be stunning aerobatic teams, high-end business jets, military craft, beautifying the London skies with their dazzling performances.

Visitors to Farnborough this year will be the first to witness the future of space travel with Virgin Galactic, the world’s first ‘space line’, the Virgin Galactic Space Ship Two, a six-passenger, two-pilot spaceship that will offer passengers the opportunity to experience sub-orbital space travel. Virgin Galactic is leading the development of privately-funded manned space ships for tourism, research, educational and other commercial purposes. The first Virgin sub-orbital passenger space flight is likely to take place by 2013.

Besides leading companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Embraer, Hawker, Finmeccanica companies, etc Pilatus Aircraft Ltd will have the PC-21 and the PC-12 NG on static display. For the first time, Farnborough 2010 had an unmanned aerial systems (UAS) Indoor Flying area which proved to be one of the most popular features of the show. Keeping its popularity in mind, this year, the unmanned systems showcase will not only have a central location but will also feature a purpose-built net for flying and ground systems demonstrations. The show will also have a business aircraft park too. On flying displays, there will be the Boeing C-17, the 787 Dreamliner, Saab Gripen, Yak 130, Apache, V-22 Osprey, Avro Vulcan, Sukhoi SU 27, Typhoon and much more.

The Farnborough International Air Show will this year host the Innovation Zone, an area dedicated to the research and technology sector offering a platform to showcase the latest technological advances to an audience of leading businesses, governments and peers from around the world. There would also be the Futures Day for the younger audience and the Jubilee Day on July 13, 2012.

Though during the public weekend (July 14 and 15), the four trade exhibition halls will be closed, there will be patriotic flying displays to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II, themed activities on the ground and the inspirational ‘Innovation Day’. Turn the pages to know more about the highlights of some of the major global aviation players at the air show.