Although not everyone has revealed their cards yet, with two weeks or so to go, this year’s Farnborough air show looks like being one of the most exciting in years for significant aircraft appearances. Both re-engined single-aisle contenders – the Airbus A320neo and the Boeing 737 Max – could be eyeing each other up on the static, along with at least one of the two Bombardier CSeries variants and the Embraer 190-E2, the first a family of three re-powered regional jets from the Brazilian airframer.
On the military side, the undoubted hero will be the Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter in both F-35A and F-35B variants. A pull-out in 2014, the type will be making its debut outside the USA 18 months before the UK’s first F-35B unit – 617 Sqn – is due to be stood up. Also set to appear for the first time is the Embraer KC-390. With two examples in flight test – but the country’s political turmoil casting a shadow over the programme at home – Embraer will be keen to showcase the airlifter to potential overseas customers.
F-35A will be making its debut outside the USA at the show, after the type was forced to pull out in 2014 following and engine fire
US Air Force
Despite a degree of scepticism about what air shows are actually for these days, the sight of major new types performing aerial manoeuvres or touching down on the runway always attracts the crowds, including professional aerospace types. Who can forget the chalets and halls emptying at Paris 2006 as attendees flocked to watch the all-new Airbus A380’s near-silent choreography in the sky, the enormous interest in the Boeing 787’s debut at Farnborough 2010, or the CSeries at last year’s Le Bourget?
Although virtually identical to their predecessors in shape, head-to-head appearances by both the Neo and the Max would be tremendously significant as Airbus and Boeing battle for dominance with the next generation of narrowbodies, and look to ramp up production to 60 aircraft a month, or possibly more. Boeing is understood to be planning to release one of its four Leap-1B-powered aircraft from a flight test programme that has been gathering momentum in Seattle for the past few months.
The A320neo actually made its first – albeit brief – air show appearance at ILA in Berlin in early June, and Airbus is believed to be looking at repeating the exercise at Farnborough. The Neo at ILA was a Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-powered Lufthansa-operated example, but with the CFM International Leap now also validated for the twinjet and deliveries of PW1100Gs significantly slowed due to technical hitches, Airbus could have the option of launching its new A320 with the alternative engine.
The PW1500G-powered Bombardier CSeries is quickly becoming an air show veteran. The all-new narrowbody is set to make its fourth appearance after Paris, Dubai and Singapore. The CS100’s imminent entry into service with Swiss in July, followed by the larger CS300 with Air Baltic in the fourth quarter – coupled with a breakthrough Delta Air Lines order earlier this year – will inject some confidence into a programme that a year ago in Le Bourget still looked fragile.
Long-term rival Embraer has had no such problems when it comes to its new aircraft, having flown its E190-E2 for the first time four months ahead of schedule on 24 May. However, despite being at the start of the flight test programme, Embraer is hopeful testing has gone smoothly enough to allow it to spare the PW1900G-powered development aircraft for its Farnborough debut. As with Bombardier, an appearance will do the type’s sales prospects no harm, with Embraer already having notched up almost 270 orders.
Embraer is hoping its PW1900G-powered E190-E2 development aircraft can appear
Embraer
Rival Mitsubishi is further along in its flight test campaign with its PW1200G-powered MRJ, having flown its first aircraft late last year and a second example in May. But it has chosen to focus on its 2,500h flight test programme, with Paris 2017 the favourite for that type’s air show debut. Comac is also believed to have considered but ruled out taking the other “new” regional jet, the ARJ21, to Farnborough. The Chinese manufacturer is at the end of a decade and a half development and certification process, with the type’s entry into service imminent.
An outside chance for a crowd-pleasing flyover is the giant Airlander airship – the largest aircraft in existence. However, this hangs on UK developer Hybrid Air Vehicles being able to put into place a flight test schedule in time. “We’ve always stated with FIA that if we can fly safely, and if we get the required clearances then we’ll aim to fly there. That still stands, although it is fair to say the likelihood of us getting those clearances is reducing,” the Bedford-based company said on 17 June.
Other types expected to be at the show include the Airbus A350-900 – which made its debut at Farnborough two years ago in hybrid Qatar and Airbus colours – and the Antonov An-178 freighter, which flew for the first time just over a year ago. The show, which kicks off on 11 July, will also be a stage for Boeing’s centenary celebrations. The US manufacturer traces its history to modest beginnings in 1916. The return to Earth of British astronaut Tim Peake will also provide a focus for the Space Zone, 25% bigger than in 2014.
Of course, aircraft on display are only part of the appeal of Farnborough. The bulk of exhibitors at the show are small and medium-sized companies, deep down the service chain, who use the event to network with existing customers and suppliers, as well as tracking down new ones. The organisers are promising “the most international Farnborough yet”, with 22 nations hosting pavilions, including China, which is doubling its presence from 2014. In addition, Farnborough anticipates delegations from more than 50 countries.
The end of this year’s public weekend will mark the start of the biggest infrastructure project Farnborough has carried out. The show has been steadily adding permanent buildings in recent years, with the Five exhibition centre and year-round Row A chalets. Work will begin this summer on the Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre, a new events venue that will replace the current, temporary hall one structure. The centre will open in time for the next show in July 2018.
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Source: Flight International
