The final trade day of Farnborough International Airshow 2010 on Friday was ‘Futures Day’ dedicated to inspiring young people with special events, stands and activities. We caught up with Ian Godden, ADS and Sir Roger Bone, Boeing UK to quiz them about what the industry is doing to inspire the next generation of aerospace professionals.

Keeping track of nuts, bolts and widgets may be one of the least sexiest parts of the aerospace industry - but is vital in today’s ‘just-in-time’ delivery supply chain. We spoke to Colin Davis, Director of Specialist Technologies Aerospace Group (STAG) about how his company fills a niche market by acting as a ‘critical buffer’ between suppliers and customers - providing the necessary flexibilty in managing stock and why “information is king”.

The RAeS Publications team report from the final day at #Farn10

While aerospace executives were still celebrating from the bumper orders placed during the airshow, Friday saw Farnborough host a special careers and youth day called Futures Day. Up to 3,000 young people descended on the show to learn more about the exciting world of aerospace and the potential careers in aerospace, defence and security. With a chance to get hands-on with the SCS Bloodhound Supersonic car, check out the Mars Rover, or see the Schools Build A Plane microlight, there was no danger of boredom. The event was supported by A|D|S, Airbus and the South West RDA among others.

The RAeS Publications team report from #Farn10

Day 4 of the Farnborough airshow and the weather finally turned, with a torrential downpour that sometimes made hearing what people were saying difficult in the halls. The press conference frenzy also quietened down, allowing the aerospace media more time to fan out across the show for more in-depth interviews and one-to-one chats.

The RAeS Publications team report from #Farn10 on the third day.

With the sunshine and heat continuing, the third day of Farnborough airshow continued in an upbeat vein – at least for the civil sector. By midweek, the official show business figures had reported some $37.5bn worth of deals signed at the show, vindicating many attendees who said that the industry had survived the recession in fairly good shape and was now gearing up for the uptick.

The RAeS Publications team report from #Farn10

Day 2 of the show continued to be sunny, both in weather and in the new sense of optimism that pervaded the show after Day 1’s bumper aircraft orders. In the halls and chalets, Tuesday also seemed to be much busier. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights

The RAeS Publications team report from #Farn10

Perhaps it was the sunshine that put optimism in the air. Perhaps it was yesterday’s arrival of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, or the flying display that including the Avro Vulcan, Red Arrows, A400M and F-22. Whatever the reason, there were a good few many aerospace executives feeling a lot more positive after this first day than at last year’s Paris airshow.

It’s that time of year again, where every two years it seems the global aerospace industry decamps to Hampshire, UK, for the Farnborough International Airshow. Part cocktail reception, part travelling circus and part high-level business conference, it leaves the residents of Hampshire unable, for a whole week, to find a spare taxi driver, security guard or waitress, as this massive event hoovers up all in its path.

Last Thursday, Boeing released its Commercial Market Outlook – a 20 year forecast that attempts to peer into the crystal ball as to how many airliners the world will need over the next two decades. Presented to the aviation media and transport correspondents in London by Randy Tinseth (you can check out his blog here) it is available in full here. (the last 2009 CMO got downloaded some 259,971 times). Boeing has a full-time staff of six people preparing this annual report and uses it to drive its strategy as well as sharing it with customers.

The UK is leading the world in a game-changing new manufacturing technique that has the potential to usher in a new industrial revolution, with aerospace and other hi-tech sectors blazing the way. TIM ROBINSON reports from EADS Innovation Works in Filton, Bristol.

Fractional ownership is a well-established concept in the business aviation sector. In it, a customer pays for a ‘share’ (or fraction) of the aircraft’s value – which guarantees them a certain number of hours usage a year. It allows a customer who by themselves could not afford an expensive asset like a bizjet to enjoy the benefits.

(first published in UAV special edition of Aerospace International, September 2009 - one of two nominations for Aerospace Journalist of the year awards 2010)

Now that portable and hand-launched UAVs have become established as valuable military assets, work is underway to develop smaller and smaller designs. BILL READ reports on the technological challenges faced in the incredible  shrinking world of MAVs and NAVs.

This is an article published in The Aerospace Professional: July 2010

This year’s Farnborough Air Show will provide a whole range of exciting activities for young people.