The 2018 Farnborough International Airshow was opened today by British Prime Minister Theresa May, who assured industry attendees that, post Brexit, Britain will “remain at the forefront of civil aviation” and that her country’s air power will continue to be “second to none.” (Her remarks are here.)
Farnborough saw $46.4 billion in deals announced on the event’s opening day, Monday (16 July), doubling the $23 billion figure achieved on the first day of the 2016 Airshow.
Orders were placed for 311 civil aircraft across the show worth $43.6 billion. More than $2.8 billion in engine orders were also announced.
Among the industry news announced at Farnborough through Monday, 16 July:
- Airbus opens first serial production facility for Zephyr High Altitude Pseudo-Satellites,promises experience of a ‘new season of flight’ at the 2018 Farnborough Airshow and announces that undisclosed lessor commits to 80 A320neo family aircraft
- Bell Helicopter (Textron) and Subaru Corporation announced their collaboration on a commercial enhancement of the BELL 412 EPI, type-certified this month as the 412 EPX, in support of the Japan UH-X program.
- Boeing donates $5 million to launch European STEM education effort, announces Services Orders and Agreements valued up to $2.1 billion, announces United Airlines order for four 787 Dreamliners as well as Qatar Airways order for five 777 Freighters
- Bombardier Commercial Aircraft unveiled the interior of the first CRJ Series aircraft with the new ATMOSPHÈRE cabin design
- Embraer and United Airlines Sign Contract for 25 E175s and the company foresees demand for 10,550 new aircraft with up to 150 seats over the next 20 years
- Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) launches “Rethink the Skies” campaign and the appointment of a new Chairman, Kevin Taylor
- L3 will exhibit both its new, extended-performance version of Bombardier’s™ Q400™ aircraft and the AT-802L Longsword™, an FAA- and military-certified ISR and light-attack aircraft, at the L3 Aircraft Support Pavilion
- Leonardo set to exhibit its latest aerospace, defence, security and trainings solutions (including the T-100) at Farnborough 2018 and marks major success for Osprey AESA radar with over 40 systems sold to eight customers
- Lockheed Martin rolled out its Farnborough 2018 agenda including LM-100J introduction as well as the introduction of a firefighting variant of its C-130J airlifter
- Raytheon to focus on innovation and leadership in missile defense, cybersecurity, air dominance, advanced radars and a wide range of other technologies at Farnborough 2018
- Rolls-Royce welcomes UK Government funding for project to push the boundaries of all-electric flight research and reports that the first Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 production engine was just dispatched to the Airbus facility in Toulouse to power Airbus’s latest aircraft, the A330neo, into service.
- Saab’s head of business area Aeronautics, Jonas Hjelm, laid out how the next two Gripen E aircraft for the flight test program are benefiting from key design decisions
- SkyX unveiled its SkyTwo drone, which builds on the success of the SkyOne electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) drone, which can fly over 100 kilometers on a single charge
- Textron Businesses — including Bell Helicopter, Textron Aviation Inc., Textron Aviation Defense LLC, Textron Systems, Textron Airborne Solutions and TRU Simulation + Training — are showcasing a vast product and technology portfolio
- United Technologies Corp. launched an all-digital innovation showcase entitled “Innovating an Extraordinary Future,” which uses immersive video, digital touch-screen technology and augmented reality with 3D-printed models, to enable visitors to learn about more than 50 product and service offerings in a multi-sensory experience.
