B787 From Australia, joined May 2005, 152 posts, RR: 0 Posted (4 years 1 month 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 7223 times:
I'm keen to visit either Farnborough and/or the Paris Air Show. What I'm wondering is which one is best? By best I mean a good combination of Civilian and Military aircraft and a balance between both flight and static displays? Thoughts anyone?
Also, what other air shows are worth visiting? I know the US military hosts shows throughout the year. Are any of these open to the public?
FRAspotter From United States of America, joined May 2004, 2316 posts, RR: 10 Reply 1, posted (4 years 1 month 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 7223 times:
You have to go to the Big Airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. I can't remember the formal name of it, but numbers wise, it's the largest airshow in the world. It has plenty of private, civil and military participants to give any aviation enthusiast a hard on.
"Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak."
FRAspotter From United States of America, joined May 2004, 2316 posts, RR: 10 Reply 2, posted (4 years 1 month 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 7218 times:
As far as other shows are concerned, I've never been to Farnborough but have been to Paris twice ('03 and '07) and loved it both times. Others would include Dubai and doesn't Avalon also have one?
"Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak."
ANstar From Netherlands, joined Nov 2003, 4845 posts, RR: 6 Reply 4, posted (4 years 1 month 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 7214 times:
Having done both Farnborough and Le Bourget I would recommend Le Bourget. It had loads more atmosphere and the stands in the halls were alot more "welcoming". Ie at Farnborough most were closed as they were only interested in the trade days and not the public days.
Rutankrd From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 1998 posts, RR: 5 Reply 5, posted (4 years 1 month 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 7190 times:
Paris will almost certainly get a Russian and Chinese Contingent that may not come to Farnborough.
Farnborough leans more to military technology as the UK no longer constructs finished civil airliners.
Paris however does retain significant civil presence what with Dassault and a multitude of hand builders.
Both very different really and each worth visiting in their own right.
The other show to consider in the UK would be the RIAT
Quite simply THE biggest airshow outside the US
Visit this link for details http://www.militaryairshows.co.uk/ven3.htm
Warbirds flying days at Duxford are worth a visit and their are roughly two to three airshows around the country each summer month May - Through September.
AeroplaneFreak From Australia, joined Sep 2006, 515 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (4 years 1 month 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 7183 times:
Quoting FRAspotter (Reply 2): As far as other shows are concerned, I've never been to Farnborough but have been to Paris twice ('03 and '07) and loved it both times. Others would include Dubai and doesn't Avalon also have one
Avalon is the Australian International Airshow held at YMAV in Avalon, VIC it is pretty good but it the same every time you go. But there are some good shows. This year the A380, B777, C-5, B-1 were the highlights for me.
SAAB900 From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2007, 479 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (4 years 1 month 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 7056 times:
Quoting B787 (Thread starter): Also, what other air shows are worth visiting?
IAT at Fairford is a must, simply the best! But get there very early,traffic getting in can be murder! Im always parked up in the car park by 06.30 then get some sleep for an hour until the gates open!
Zeltweg in Austria was a very good show last time it was on in 2005! Although again traffic jams trying to get there were horrendous! Im trying to make it this year as well.
Im also visiting the Slovakian airshow at Piestany this year, if any of our Slovakian A.netter's(or any A.netter's who have visited it) have any tips for this show I'd be pleased to hear from them!
Citation501SP From United States of America, joined May 2000, 194 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (4 years 1 month 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 6958 times:
Quoting B787 (Thread starter): I know the US military hosts shows throughout the year. Are any of these open to the public?
Most all US Military Open Houses and Airshows are open to the public and generally free of charge. The theory you are allowed on base to see your tax dollars at work. As for what are the best ones. Edwards AFB is supposedly a good one just in the variety of aircraft. there are a few sporadic big shows at bases across the US. Westover ARB (CEF) is one, The Blue Angels Homecoming in Pensacola is another.
Most Military shows in the US are becoming boring. The services only fly a handful of aircraft types, I long for the day's of the 80's as a kid going to Griffiss AFB (RME) open houses and seeing one of everything the Air Force had and several visitors from the other services. There isn't nearly the variety today in the US.
HT From Germany, joined May 2005, 6473 posts, RR: 27 Reply 9, posted (4 years 1 month 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 6952 times:
Quoting SAAB900 (Reply 7): Zeltweg in Austria was a very good show last time it was on in 2005! Although again traffic jams trying to get there were horrendous! Im trying to make it this year as well.
Stay away from street S36 coming from motorway A9.
I had no problems to get to AirPower05 on that Friday using B78 through the Levanttal coming from Klagenfurt; should also be a good option from around Graz (exit the A2 at Bad Sankt Leonhard).
Quoting Citation501SP (Reply 8): Most Military shows in the US are becoming boring. The services only fly a handful of aircraft types,
Copy that.
Quoting B787 (Thread starter): Also, what other air shows are worth visiting?
If you are into warbirds from WW2, go to either the Flying Legends at Duxford (UK) held in July or "Airsho" held by the CAF at Midland-Odessa Airport (MAF) in Texas held in October.
I have been to both venues, and they really are worth the effort to go there.
While in the UK you can visit more museums or probably airshows - OTOH, MAF is a pretty isolated spot (even by U.S. standards), so combining it with anything else requires lots of drving or taking flights.
SAAB900 From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2007, 479 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (4 years 1 month 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 6939 times:
Quoting HT (Reply 9):
Stay away from street S36 coming from motorway A9.
I had no problems to get to AirPower05 on that Friday using B78 through the Levanttal coming from Klagenfurt; should also be a good option from around Graz (exit the A2 at Bad Sankt Leonhard).
HT,
Thanks very much for the info, will have a good look at this on my map! It will be a much earlier set off time from the hotel this year! I just hope that we dont have another storm like at Air Power 05, that saw us sheltering under the wing of the Red Bull Dc6 for abut an hour!! But it was certainly worth going to!
AirbusA6 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2005, 1907 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (4 years 1 month 1 day ago) and read 6840 times:
Quoting B787 (Thread starter): I'm keen to visit either Farnborough and/or the Paris Air Show. What I'm wondering is which one is best? By best I mean a good combination of Civilian and Military aircraft and a balance between both flight and static displays? Thoughts anyone?
Both are excellent, but as they alternate years, you'll probably end up going to one that coincides with your trip to Europe! The specialist shows as mentioned elsewhere are better for pure flying displays, but Farnborough and Paris have better static displays and all the trade stands as well.
The civilian flying displays tend to be slightly disappointing, though Airbus normally fly something interesting - I remember that A300FBW demonstrator! I wonder if we'll get to see a 787 doing it's stuff one day
it's the bus to stansted (now renamed national express a4 to ruin my username)
HT From Germany, joined May 2005, 6473 posts, RR: 27 Reply 12, posted (4 years 1 month 23 hours ago) and read 6836 times:
Quoting SAAB900 (Reply 10): It will be a much earlier set off time from the hotel this year!
In which area will that be ?
I am looking into staying ouside Graz this time (used to stay in Velden on the western end of Lake Wörthersee).
Quoting SAAB900 (Reply 10): I just hope that we dont have another storm like at Air Power 05, that saw us sheltering under the wing of the Red Bull Dc6 for abut an hour!!
This, I assume, was on Saturday, whereas Friday was simply hot weather, IIRC. (But we ggot soaken wet 2 during AirPower03 ...).
-HT
Carpe diem ! Life is too short to waste your time ! Keep in mind, that today is the first day of the rest of your life !
SAAB900 From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2007, 479 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (4 years 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 6762 times:
Quoting HT (Reply 12): In which area will that be ?
I am looking into staying ouside Graz this time (used to stay in Velden on the western end of Lake Wörthersee).
We stayed at the Ibis next to the railway station in the centre of Graz last time! I enjoyed it as I still have a interest in railways, coming from a railway family & driving trams for a living!
Quoting HT (Reply 12): This, I assume, was on Saturday, whereas Friday was simply hot weather, IIRC. (But we ggot soaken wet 2 during AirPower03 ...).
Yes it was on the saturday. Never been outside in a storm like that before, it was amazing! The plus side of the storm was some great photo's with a very wet runway!
Unfortunately I've had my lieu day for the saturday refused so I wont be going this year after all! But I've still got the Slovakian airshow at Piestany to look forward to & will check my rest days to see if I can fit any other foreign shows in!
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But it was certainly worth going to!
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But I've still got the Slovakian airshow at Piestany to look forward to & will check my rest days to see if I can fit any other foreign shows in! 
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