Paris Air Show 2007: Your opinion

[rut-her]

Hello,

I started this topic to ask for opinion of the Paris Air Show this year.

It was the first time I visited Le Bourget, and I must say, I was very disappointed

Here is my review:

1. The static wasn't really that good: stairs in front etc, but I knew it would be like that and I guess it is part of an airshow.

2. A lot of the announced planes already left the airport:
* Airbus A340-600: never showed up
* Qatar A330: gone
* Luftwaffe A310MRTT: gone
* Australian Air Force A330MRTT: gone
* EgyptAir Express Embraer170: gone
* EADS/CASA A310: gone
* Antonov 140: not seen

3. Flying display: During the day I was given three(3!!) different flyers with an overview of the flying display and none of it showed the correct information about the planes that participated in the show, and they were all in alphabetic order, not in order of appearance.

4. The A380 in the flying display. It continued to fly high in the sky. I always needed 200+ mm to take a pic and for a plane of that size, that is a long distance! I can understand that it took the other runway away from the crowd to land because of the wind direction, but it didn't perform a low pass to entertain the crowd or something like that. Nor did it taxi along the crowd after landing like all other planes did.

5. No possibility to see a plane from the inside, not even the small airplanes. I'd have loved to see the interior of the A380 or B777.

Yes, after all, I was really disappointed. And I don't know if I'll ever go back to that show.
What was your opinion of the airshow and what do you think of it?

Greetz,
Rutger

PS: http://www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=641024

[nry50]

Hello Rutger,

Sorry you were disappointed with the Paris Air Show this year. I went on Wednesday and all the aircraft which had gone when you went were present. As with every show here, many aircraft leave after the trade days, I guess the main aim of the show from the organisers point of view is to sell aeroplanes and the spotters and general public take second place. I think if you want to go again, you should go on a trade day, it is more expensive to get in, but well worth it. It is not as crowded with people, hence more photographic opportunities, and you can get in by showing any sort of business card.

Best Regards,

Neil.

[Andries]

I must say I was quite pleased with Le Bourget this year ! Before I take on your points, I must add that I went there on Monday.

1. The static wasn't really that good: stairs in front etc, but I knew it would be like that and I guess it is part of an airshow.

LBG has allways been very crowded, because so many aircraft are presented on such a relatively small surface. I guess you just have to live with it.

2. A lot of the announced planes already left the airport:
* Airbus A340-600: never showed up
* Qatar A330: gone
* Luftwaffe A310MRTT: gone
* Australian Air Force A330MRTT: gone
* EgyptAir Express Embraer170: gone
* EADS/CASA A310: gone
* Antonov 140: not seen

Airbus A340-600 and A318 were not present, so I was dissapointed too that Airbus only had 1 flying display. On the other hand, they did have a nice static park with another A380 and the Qatar A330 (A7-ACM). The Luftwaffe and RAAF MRTT's were really something ! Allthough the RAAF A330 MRTT was static and very hard to photograph, it was still very nice to see !



The flying display of the Luftwaffe and EADS MRTT were kind of boring, just some fly-by's nothing else.







The EMB-170 was a real treat for me as it will never fly to our parts of Europe.



The AN-140 was absent, so that was a disappointment, however, the An-148 was static and flying, which was a nice surprise !



What I really liked was that ther were 2 Airbus A380's. These provided some really nice photo-opportunities !

3. Flying display: During the day I was given three(3!!) different flyers with an overview of the flying display and none of it showed the correct information about the planes that participated in the show, and they were all in alphabetic order, not in order of appearance.

I got 1 programme and it was 100% correct, almost to the minute !

4. The A380 in the flying display. It continued to fly high in the sky. I always needed 200+ mm to take a pic and for a plane of that size, that is a long distance! I can understand that it took the other runway away from the crowd to land because of the wind direction, but it didn't perform a low pass to entertain the crowd or something like that. Nor did it taxi along the crowd after landing like all other planes did.

I shot the flying display of the A380 with just 140mm (side-shot on fly-by). You should know that these shots were made from the static display area, as during weekdays, there is no viewing area or tribune ... So in the weekend, you're much closer to the action !
So either you were miles outside the airport or you were looking at the wrong aircraft when you constantly needed 200+ mm.

You can't expect the A380 to taxi by like other aircraft. First off all, it was parked at the other end of the airport. Second, an A380 doesn't easily turn 180° on a LBG taxiway ... Those 2 factors probably caused that it din't come by.

This is my shot at 140mm from the end of the Static park

5. No possibility to see a plane from the inside, not even the small airplanes. I'd have loved to see the interior of the A380 or B777.

You must remember that Paris Air Show is meant as a Aviation TRADE Show for the aviation industrie. So it primairily focusses on selling aircraft and making deals. This is not the average airshow where you see a 20-year old Jetfighter where you can sit in the cockpit for a few seconds, this is one of the worlds leading Trade Shows with the latest of new developments.

Allthough, with some talking-skills and a good explanation, you can get somewhere if you go on the weekdays.



Finally some other shots from LBG 2007 :

















As a final conclusion for LBG, I must say I was quite pleased by the presence of larger Aircraft like A310's, A330, A380's and B777-300 ! Also the littler EMB-170 and An-148 were a real treat to me ! For me this was the best Paris Airshow I've been to, although it was only the second ...

Greetz,

Andries

[rut-her]

Thank you Andries for your opinion.

As a final conclusion for LBG, I must say I was quite pleased by the presence of larger Aircraft like A310's, A330, A380's and B777-300 ! Also the littler EMB-170 and An-148 were a real treat to me !

That were the planes I really wanted to see, but they were already gone


I'll try to keep in mind to go during the trade visitor days in 2009.
Indeed, as you already said, the focus is on the selling of airplanes and not entertaining the general public. And as the all planes are at LBG, they keep the show open for 3 more days for the general public. The entrance fees for these 3 days are pure profit for the organisation. (5 or 8 day show isn't that big difference)

After a whole day of editing pics, I can show you what I saw at LBG:
http://www.planepictures.net/xsearch.cg ... 0&range=10
http://www.rutgerbeyen.be/pages/albumlist.php?album=14

Greetz,
Rutger

[Duke]

I agree with Rutger.
I went on Sunday, and the situation was even worse.
The 777-300, the A330 and the EMB-170 (or 190?) had already gone, no Patrouille de France in the flying display, nor the Dassault 7-X.
Luckily the A380 was still flying, and for me this and the magnificent Constellation made the trip worth doing.
I agree it is a trade event, with the focus on selling aircraft, but the crowd on Sunday was huge, and a lot of people came to see the aircraft demonstrations in flight (at least I did).
Not every aviation enthousiast is working in the avation industry... Some people have to work during weekdays, and can't always take a day off.
The Sunday visitors were not really given an exceptional flying display. Except for the A380, no civil planes were demonstrated, and although the demonstrations of the F-16, F-18, Tornado, Mirage and Typhoon were nice, I got a somewhat "déjà-vu" feeling...
Around noon, it was hardly impossible to move in the inside halls, so crowded they were.
On the other hand, I was surprised by the entrance price (just for the show, no place to sit on the tribunes) : 12 euro was less than I had expected. Maybe they calculated the less interesting flying display. The reasonal entrance price was however compensated by hight prices for (bad) food and drinks, but this is not a complaint, as nobody is forced to buy food or drinks at the show...
Conclusion : mixed feelings, and I'm not sure if I'll go there in two years...

[Andries]

My solution to taking pictures of the statics at Le Bourget :

viewtopic.php?t=22005

no Patrouille de France in the flying display

No flying display either on any other day. They did just 1, yes, just 1 fly-by for the opening of the show. The appeared from the right and dissappeared to the left, not to be seen again that day ...

Greetz,

Andries

[level-d-flyboy]

I was there on friday. In the beginning it was a bit boring because the first thing we saw were the great halls with al the manufacturers of all those country's. But the part with the large engines from RR was very interesting. Then you just see how large such an engine is on its one.

The weather was also a drag, We've been running from the rain twice that day but it was worth it.
The Flying display of the A380 was quitte impressive. Nice angles he was doing.

The static display of the A380 was also nice. I've been walking to the other side of the tarmac tot the fighters to get a whole shot of it

But what the **** was that stupig red london bus doing between the 777 en the A380? You couldn't have a decent angle to take some nice pictures of the 777. And it would have been better if the 777 was reversed with nose to the center of the tarmac. But I must say it was a nice plane, I love seeing those at EBBR real soon. 8)


The rest of the static display was nice but it would have been more fun if the A330 from quatar was still there or if there would have been a A340 there but the A380 and the constalation made up much

It was worth the 5 hour drive

Maybe I will be back for the next show in 09 but than I'm going on a trade day I think

[Andries]

I was there on friday + Location : EBZW/EBOS

Studying at the KHBO are you ?

Greetz,

Andries

[Denmen]

I was there on saturday...
What about the coment that was given during the airshow, it was way to loud and it irritated me a lot!

I was glad and a lot of other people also when the power went of for 2 times, so no loud comment. Also i'm not going to buy any Breitling watches in the future any more...

[level-d-flyboy]

I was there on friday + Location : EBZW/EBOS

Studying at the KHBO are you ?

Greetz,

Andries

Unfortunealy yes 8)

[rut-her]

But what the **** was that stupig red london bus doing between the 777 en the A380?

That was the place where the Embraer 170 from EgyptAir Express was parked. The titles on the bus were "Fly to London with Embraer" ...

It was worth the 5 hour drive

I took the thalys and it takes only 1h15

Some people have to work during weekdays, and can't always take a day off.

That's absolutely true! I was in the middle of the exams. I had my last exam on friday morning and I took the Thalys Friday afternoon. So I went to paris as soon as I could.

I was glad and a lot of other people also when the power went of for 2 times, so no loud comment. Also i'm not going to buy any Breitling watches in the future any more...

Indeed the comments were terrible! Too bad the power came up again right at the moment the A380 lifted up.
I had a seat on the tribune, and I had no problem with the sound volume, it was within acceptable limits for me. But maybe that's one of the privilleges you get when you pay 10 euros extra...
I've had enough of that boring breitling watch. Thay might be expensive and beautiful, but no way I'll buy one!!


If they want to see me again in 2009, they must have one hell of a progam!!

Greetz,
Rutger

[NLmember]

I have to agree with Rutger as well. I went on a Sunday under the impression most if not all the airplanes they put in their
promotional material should be there.
Unfortunately most interesting planes were gone and a handfull of empty stands were the result.
Only highlight was that the 2 A380s were still there, but that is it.

In my opinion it is just a major rip off to go on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They charge you for the ticket, you enter the show
and you will discover that half of the static display is gone

Anyone knows how much a ticket will cost on a Trade day? For sure I will not be there in 2009 on a normal crowdy day

[Andries]

It was worth the 5 hour drive

I took the thalys and it takes only 1h15

2 years ago, I also went with the KHBO (by bus) and we arrived at LBG at 12:00 after a 5,5 hour drive from Ostend. So this year I just went on monday (with my last exam on wednesday) so that I didn't have to go through that ordeal again ...

Getting in on Trade day's requires an organisation, recognised as a trade visitor by the Paris Air Show authoroties, to order tickets for you. That's how I got inside.

Greetz,

Andries

[NLmember]

Getting in on Trade day's requires an organisation, recognised as a trade visitor by the Paris Air Show authoroties, to order tickets for you.

So when you work for an airline I guess you problably get the tickets, right.

[Andries]

Getting in on Trade day's requires an organisation, recognised as a trade visitor by the Paris Air Show authoroties, to order tickets for you.

So when you work for an airline I guess you problably get the tickets, right.

If your employer is willing to order the tickets for you. You cant order tickets just because you work with an airline, the airline has to order them for you. On monday I've even seen people with tickets from Aviapartner.

Greetz,

Andries

[FLY4HOURS.BE]

I was very disappointed by this airshow. My colleagues have been there during the week and had the opportunity to visit the Embraer from the inside but nothing special besides that.

From a military point of view, I think our Sanicole Airshow is way better.

Cessna wouldn t even think about letting me take a look on their Caravan...
And our business is very interested by this aircraft...
But that couldn t convince them (probably 'cause I, neither my colleague were wearing a suit due to the hot weather nor have we requested badges)...

I though pretty much liked the Kingfisher ATR-72. Gosh, is that aircraft's belly close to the ground

And Thalys sucks!! We travelled 1st class and got a dinner included in the trip. Guess what? I discovered a flie in my desert. Disgusting.
And the service was rather too "economic" to my taste. They wouldn t look happy if you asked for a cup of water...

[petarn]

I've been in the A380 and in the B777.
It was nice... I've been there on Friday and saturday.

grtz

[Bruspotter]

Hello

rut-her:

2. A lot of the announced planes already left the airport:
* Airbus A340-600: never showed up
* Qatar A330: gone
* Luftwaffe A310MRTT: gone
* Australian Air Force A330MRTT: gone
* EgyptAir Express Embraer170: gone
* EADS/CASA A310: gone
* Antonov 140: not seen

Well guess that's life at an Airshow.

Now I can't say I was dissapointed about the Farnborough FIA 2006 Airshow last July, far from, but indeed in big lines the same problem.

Not really that there where stairs standing in the way, but the fences where actually a bit TOO close to the aircraft to take a full shot .
Besides that, wings and rotorblades of nearby planes/helikopters reached till over the static aircraft...but that's the way it goes on airshows, believe me:D You'll have to take peace with that

For the rest, it's indeed because you didn't visited the show during the trade-days (weekdays) that a lot of visitors where already gone. I also had the same at the FIA 2006. Now I didn't visited Paris airshow (unfortunatly ) but I know where it is elsewhere.

Hope not everyone had the same opionion about LBG airshow, or I'll have to start to believe that I didn't really missed a lot :s

Best regards: Yannick