The SBAC airshows 1948-2000

the foundations

Farnboroughs name had been spread more for its airshow than its reasearch in the eyes of the general public.Although the airshow has only taken up a tiny proportion of the sites time.

The SBAC,the Socitey of Aircraft Manufactures was formed during World War One.It brought toughter all the aircraft firms in one representave body.The first annual diplays were held as part of the annual RAF display in the early 1930's. By the end of the decade a dedicated show was taking place annually.After World war Two the first show took place at Radlett,Hertfordshire in 1946.There was no room for the public at this even,and,after considerable preassure,it was moven to Farnborough in 1948. The show was open to visitors from the trade on Tuesday 7th to Friday 10th September.The Saturday and Sunday being public days.This format has hardly changed except for the addistion of Monday,and for a time in the 70's and 80's a semi public Friday.

The show was held annually,and was only open to companys,and aircraft of British origin.Britian was still a world leader and aircraft such as the Comet,Viscount,Vulcan,Hunter,and later the Harrier all saw they world debut at the airshows. The first few shows where held on the northside of the airfield,before the move to the now well known southside.The exhibition space being established on the previously disused hill over looking the airfield.

The Blackburn Beverley at Franborough in the mid 50's

The Bristol Brabazon,one of the great 'white elephants' of the 1950's flying at Farnborough

A early Vickers Vulcan on a low flyby in the 50's

Disasters

In the 1950's many new and untested proyotypes were shown.These were at the cutting edge of technology,and problems were inevatable. The worst occused at the 1952 when the new De Havilland 110 fighter dissengrated and large parts landed in the crowd.The two crew and 29 peopel on the ground.This led to mre stringent flying rules,and the banning of flying over the crowd.The next fatal crash was not until 1968.When the french Atlantique maratime patrol aircraft crashed near the main gate,killing the five crew and one on the ground.Sice then accidents have been few and far between,the last was non fatal in 1984.

Farnborough International

With the contraction of the British aircraft industry in the 1960's the airshow was running of of exhibits. It was decided to open it up to foreign aircraft.Initally,in 1966 to those with major British parts,and in 1972 to all commers.It was also decided to go bi-annual in 1962,on even years so not to collide to the similar even held in Paris.

The now truely international show grew and grew to its height in the 1980's.All the worlds majour manufacturers attended, including for the first time in 1984 the Russians.Athough challended by paris and Berlin it is still one of the top trade shows in the world.Its future assured now the future of the airfield has benn settled.

The Russina SU32 in 2000,something unbeleivable 15 years ago

The Airbus 300ST at the 200 show

The Eurofighter 200 at Farnborough 1998

return to index