Aircraft

Highlights from the 2016 Farnborough Airshow

Highlights from the 2016 Farnborough Airshow
The 2016 Farnborough Airshow saw more than US$100 billion in orders recorded ... and some spectacular action in the skies
The 2016 Farnborough Airshow saw more than US$100 billion in orders recorded ... and some spectacular action in the skies
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The Sikorsky Black Hawk was on display at the show, with smiling executives in tow
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The Sikorsky Black Hawk was on display at the show, with smiling executives in tow
The Airbus A350 XWB took flight at the Farnborough Airshow
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The Airbus A350 XWB took flight at the Farnborough Airshow
Airbus claims the XWB is more efficient than its direct competitors
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Airbus claims the XWB is more efficient than its direct competitors
The Airbus A380 takes flight at Farnborough
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The Airbus A380 takes flight at Farnborough
Airbus was all about widebody aircraft at Farnborough
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Airbus was all about widebody aircraft at Farnborough
The weather was horrible at Farnborough, but that didn't put a dampener on the crowds
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The weather was horrible at Farnborough, but that didn't put a dampener on the crowds
The crowds at Farnborough
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The crowds at Farnborough
The 2016 Farnborough Airshow saw more than US$100 billion in orders recorded ... and some spectacular action in the skies
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The 2016 Farnborough Airshow saw more than US$100 billion in orders recorded ... and some spectacular action in the skies
Airbus is using drones to inspect its aircraft
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Airbus is using drones to inspect its aircraft
SWISS is the first airliner to take delivery of a Bombardier CS100
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SWISS is the first airliner to take delivery of a Bombardier CS100
It wasn't all about Boeing and Airbus at Farnborough, there were plenty of other planes on display
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It wasn't all about Boeing and Airbus at Farnborough, there were plenty of other planes on display
The Boeing 737 MAX made its first airshow appearance at Farnborough this year
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The Boeing 737 MAX made its first airshow appearance at Farnborough this year
The Boeing 737 MAX is designed to make the flight quieter for passengers
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The Boeing 737 MAX is designed to make the flight quieter for passengers
Lockheed Martin had its F-35 hover in front of the crowd
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Lockheed Martin had its F-35 hover in front of the crowd
The Joint Strike Fighter takes flight
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The Joint Strike Fighter takes flight
The Bombardier CS100 takes flight
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The Bombardier CS100 takes flight
The CS100 has big windows and wide seats
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The CS100 has big windows and wide seats
SWISS is the first carrier to get its hands on the Bombardier CS100
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SWISS is the first carrier to get its hands on the Bombardier CS100
View gallery - 18 images

The engines have been powered down and the hangar doors are shut after another Farnborough International Airshow. Not even foul weather could put a dampener on proceedings, with the Boeing 737 MAX and Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II both making their airshow debut under grey skies. Here's a quick look at some of the highlights.

Fighter jet flyby

The Joint Strike Fighter takes flight
The Joint Strike Fighter takes flight

Farnborough was the first airshow to host the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II.

The supersonic fighter put on a show for the crowd, stopping in flight, hovering and then turning on the spot. Capable of short ski-jump takeoffs, the Joint Strike Fighter is one of the most technically advanced aircraft ever made. It was originally meant to be displayed at the 2014 Farnborough Show, before an engine fire grounded it for more testing.

Boeing takes the 737 to the MAX

The Boeing 737 MAX is designed to make the flight quieter for passengers
The Boeing 737 MAX is designed to make the flight quieter for passengers

This year Farnborough also hosted the first airshow appearance for the Boeing 737 MAX. According to the company, its latest generation 737 will use 20 percent less fuel than its predecessor, have a maximum operating range of 3,500 nautical miles (6,510 km) and a noise footprint that's 40 percent smaller than other single aisle aircraft.

X marks the spot for Airbus

The Airbus A350 XWB took flight at the Farnborough Airshow
The Airbus A350 XWB took flight at the Farnborough Airshow

Airbus, not one to be outdone, put on a show with its widebody aircraft at Farnborough this year. The A350 XWB entered commercial service at the end of 2015, offering a claimed 25 percent fuel efficiency advantage compared to the Boeing 777.

The company has secured more than 800 orders, and seven airlines have already received their planes delivered.

Head through to the gallery for more Farnborough Airshow highlights.

View gallery - 18 images
3 comments
3 comments
VeryOldCynic
why are we still spending so much money on armies and in this case air forces. astronomical amounts. why?
Island Architect
Engineers will normally kill for small %increases in efficiency... here we see some very sizable proclamations.
At least they stick their necks out!
But when it comes to wind engines... all is mum so we get to see all sorts of cackamamie stuff at very low efficiencies. Yet it is some years now since Bill Allison hit the Betz limit.