Farnborough International Air Show

The Farnborough International Air Show is paired in alternate years with the Paris Air Show. In 2012, although stationed in England, I was away in Kazakhstan for a business trip, so this was my first opportunity to see this. Everyone who deals in the aerospace industry is here, from suppliers of tools and baggage carts to makers of satellites and weaponry. Many nations participate. I saw displays from Romania, Czech Republic, Turkey, Switzerland, Canada, Mexico, Africa, and of course the ever-present dominance of the mega industries from the United States, European Union, and Russia. I attended on the 18th of July against the backdrop of the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 over Eastern Ukraine the day before by an apparent surface-to-air missile strike.

It was an eerie experience watching the animated demonstration in one of the Russian exhibits of what may have been the very system that downed the aircraft.













A nearby exhibit demonstrated a missile protection system that fired decoys from a plane to intercept incoming missiles. Some argue that Air Force One is protected; why shouldn't we be? Are we willing to pay for it or do we prefer to play the lottery?

The air show is walking distance from my apartment in Farnborough. I showed up early and beat the crowds, did all of the exhibits, went home for lunch and a brief nap, then came back for the flying displays. It was a rare, asphalt-melting day in England. With no sun screen (we don't need that in England, right?) I managed to come back with a very nice sunburn. But my choice of days to visit was a stroke of genius, as the next day turned out to be overcast and rainy.

Replica - The Original is in the Smithsonian

Here are some highlights:

A Turkish Helicopter - Really Bizarre

Hard to imagine how this monster EVER gets off the ground!

A Space Display from the Russians

Not exactly Camouflage, but then by the time you see it, it may already be too late

Drone displays were in evidence

Airbus A350 Cockpit Simulator

The "Fluor" building in the center background is where I work

Another Monster

The Harrier standing still in the air

The British "Red Arrows" Stunt Team

Transition Time Again

It's been such a long time since the last post.

Now its almost time to leave the UK experience behind. A lot of water under the bridge since the last post.....excursions to Dublin, Ireland, Edinburgh, Scotland (twice), a lovely trip to Germany in Christmas 2012, weekends in Dusseldorf/Osnabruck, Helsinki, New York. A home now in Houston (more to come on that). Memorable trips for family visits in Colorado, Texas, and now Oklahoma. Soon I'll leave work behind and start a new life of exploration. Some ideas are yet to mature and some may never, but they are sure to keep me active.