Farnborough Air Show part 1 - 09/07/12

Hot on the heels of Fairford this year was a trip to Hampshire for the biennial Farnborough Airshow. I attended my first show here in 1972 and have been lucky enough to get to every one since.

This first of two posts takes a look a look at some of the aircraft being exhibited on the first day of the show.


A long way from its Seoul base is Korean Air's Boeing 737-900 HL8248, , 'borrowed' by the manufacturer to represent the latest version of its venerable airliner.

Paying a brief visit to the show was Sukhoi Superjet 100 RA-89008 in the smart colours of one of its early customers, Aeroflot.

Still wearing its Brazilian test registration, PT-TSB, this Embraer 190 was displayed in the colours of Ukrainian airline Aerosvit but was never actually delivered, passing instead to the Venezuelan operator Conviasa.

NH Industries NH90 N-228 of the Royal Netherlands Navy.

A welcome arrival was AS1126, a Beech 200 Super King Air of the Armed Forces of Malta, one of two used by the Maltese for maritime patrol; note the observation 'bubble' window aft of the door.

Opening the flying display, the Vulcan to the Sky Trust's XH558(G-VLCN) formates on the Red Arrows' BAe Hawk T1s before landing.

Arriving from Fairford where it had been part of the static display, was Colombian Air Force Lancair-CIAC T90 Calima FAC-2446.

Another arrival from Fairford, KAI T50B Golden Eagle 10-0051/6 of the Republic of Korea Air Force, in the markings of the Black Eagles display team.

Diamond DA42MPP TwinStar G-DOSB lands after a demonstration flight. This aircraft has been recently noted operating on behalf of the RAF.

Another aircraft carrying out frequent demonstration flights in the morning was Caledonian Airborne Systems' Reims-Cessna F406 Caravan II, G-CVXN.

In amongst all the new technology, a reminder of an earlier era came in the shape of three WWII-vintage aircraft. Consolidated PBV1A Canso G-PBYA/433915 was joined by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Supermarine Spitfire LF Vb AB910 and Avro Lancaster PA474.

Despite it being forty years since my first Farnborough, I still find it slightly 'jaw-dropping' to watch an aircraft the size of the Airbus A380 being thrown around the skies above Hampshire. Malaysia Airlines' 9M-MNB was this year's chosen airframe.

Making its Farnborough debut, Eurocopter's latest model, the EC175.

The Eurofighter Typhoon has been a regular visitor to Farnborough. In this photo, RAF Coningsby-based ZK317/ES of  6 Squadron is pictured just after landing.

Three AgustaWestland machines put on a very good show. AW139 I-AWIT was joined by debutantes AW169 I-EASF and AW189 I-RAIH.

Saab JAS39C Gripen of the Swedish Air Force gets airborne.

McDonnell -Douglas FA18F Super Hornet 166790/NJ-135 of the US Navy's VFA-122 squadron was not exactly the quietest aircraft there. Two General Electric F414-GE-400 engines produce a lot of noise and exhaust!

Russia's latest jet trainer, the Yakovlev Yak130, crosses the 'piano keys' before touching down on runway 24.

It's not often that a home-built aircraft features at Farnborough, but Phillips ST2 Speedtwin G-STDL did its maker proud.

Stolp SA300 Starduster Too F-PFJP was another participant from the lighter end of the market.

After early flight-test mishaps and controversy over its cost, the Bell-Boeing MV22B Osprey tilt-rotor seems to have settled into squadron life. The United States Marine Corps' 168226/EH-14 from VMM-264 lifts off at the start of its routine.

Boeing made a welcome return to airliner flying displays after an absence of many years.  Although wearing Qatar Airways livery, Boeing 787 Dreamliner N10187 was still undergoing flight-testing and would be delivered to the airline, as A7-BCB, some time after the show.