Modern times 1970's onwards


The 70's

By the 1970's the British aircraft industry had gone through many mergers.It was only capable of making world class combat aircraft through colaberation with European partners.This resulted in the SEPECAT Jaguar(Britian and France),and the Panavia Tornado(Britian,Germany and Italy).The country was still at the leading edge of technology in avionics,much of it tested at Farnbrough.


The SEPECAT Jaguar in the familair RAE 'rasberry ripple' scheme of the 70's onwards

The Vickers Viscount which served for many years at Farnborough

The first night vision system was Low Light TV,which was developed into the night vision system of today.Also today's laser guided bombs were pioneered at Farnborough.A much reduced fleet of aircraft was needed to test this equipment.These were The familiar Hunters and Canberras,plus the newer Jaguars and Buccaneers. Comets,Andovers,Viscounts and BAC 1-11's were all used as flying laboritories.

The end of military flying

The 1980's saw the final nail in the coffin of Farnbrough.The RAE became DERA(Defence Evaluation and Research Agency) in 1991. The town had grown considerably and now surrounded the aerodrome on two sides.The aircraft industry had shrunk even more with no new major projects.In the interests of economy it had decided to concentrate all research flying at Bedford and Boscombe Down.It was decided to develop the aerodrome as London's business airport.Military flying came to a end in 1994 with the relocation of the remaining aircraft to Boscombe Down. Leaving a hand full of grounded aircraft for test work.The DERA headquarters and new research buildings were opened in 1996 on the North West side of the airfield.This left only a hand full of buildings occupied on the original site.


The Piper PA31 used for communication flights,one of the last aircraft to serve at Farnborough

The Business airport

In January 1989 the civil enclave was opened,This was operated by Carroll Aviation until that company's demise in 1995.After that by Farnborough Business Aviation,a British Aerospace company.The facilities are located within the new Farnborough aerospace center on the south side of the airfield.The Aerospace center is a high prestige business park,and included the HQ of British Aerospace's military division.

Traffic has seen steady growth with 3000 movements in 1994,and now over 11000 in 2000.It caters for VIP's and business travellers who use private jets,and turbo prop aircraft.These are from the 6 seat Cessna Citationjet,to the VIP Boeing BBJ, based on the 150+ seat 737 airliner.Maintiance is also carried out in the former MoD hangars.The DERA aeroclub continues to use the airfield,and there a a small number of based aircraft.

The airfield was still owned by the MoD and operated by them.A more permanent deal was struck with swiss based TAG Aviation in 1999. They will take over the full running airfield once it has been brought up to full civil standards in around 2003. The 'factory' site,the original site near the town center,was to be developed for commercial purposes. Slough Estates was chosen from the bidders,and work commenced in 2000.This lead to the demolition of all the non listed buildings on the site. Buildings that had been part of the local scenery for over 80 years disappeared overnight.The remaining buildings,including wind tunnels, are to form the neclueus of a proposed museum.

The future flying at Farnborough seems secure with TAG Aviation making major investments.The airshows future is also secure. The next few years could see some exciting developments...watch this space.


A BAe125 a type heavily used at Farnborough by business travelers
Pictured outside the maintiance hangars

The Boeing BBJ,a familiar sight at Farnborough