The Paris Air Show (Le Bourget) 2011 review topic

[Copter]

Started this topic for reviews of the 2011 Paris Air Show.

Yesterday I visited this airshow by bus, very good organised by Onze Luchtmacht.

Static
Photo conditions at the static show are poor. Offcourse we knew this before, but what we didn't know was that some exhibits (Boeing, Sikorsky) allready left the airfield of the static show. Also some area's where closed for the public (Agusta Westland) so making decent pictures was not easy.

Flying display
The display programm was not bad but the viewing area was to small for the amount of people visiting. They also put two fences (one of them 2 meters high !) between the public and display area. Photography was difficult. Also a lot of people (family's) sitting at the field, while photographers stood near the fence (the only way you could make some pictures). Result; a lot of screaming French people when a photographer stood up to make a picture. These people expected to come in last and have the best view ....

Fair
Some of the exhibition-halls were abandoned, I think because there is nothing to earn from non-bussines visitors.

In general the Le Bourget airshow is not "spotters-friendly" and it is just a way for the organisation to make easy money. I would be better when the public days were somewere in the middle of the event, resulting in more aircraft.

By the way, I had great day at Le Bourget

[DJMikey]

Started this topic for reviews of the 2011 Paris Air Show.
Yesterday I visited this airshow by bus, very good organised by Onze Luchtmacht.

Thanks, you're welcome!

[Benjamin]

I was there to yesterday.
For me it was a second visit, so every thing was as expected.

I had a really nice day, no problem with the crowd at the fence, we just sat down 50meters backwards,... to many obstacles anyway to make descent shots form the runway, just make photo's flying.

I knew it would be an show like this so i went with the hope of no good photo, every nice photo you do make is bonus then

And my boss paid the trip, so i'm not complaining

(To good weather to edit photo's so that will be done later this week.)

[aviodromefriend]

Well, I haven't been to the show this year but a few general remarks:

but what we didn't know was that some exhibits (Boeing, Sikorsky) allready left the airfield of the static show.

It is normal at such events (trade shows), so it could be expected in advance. Boeing's absence was even announced in the airshow news forum before the show started.

Some of the exhibition-halls were abandoned, I think because there is nothing to earn from non-bussines visitors.

Yes, Public Days are impopulair in the business especially.due to all the little children screaming for stickers etc. That is why they are discussing the complete closure of the exhibition halls during the public days at Farnborough next year.

In general the Le Bourget airshow is not "spotters-friendly" and it is just a way for the organisation to make easy money. I would be better when the public days were somewere in the middle of the event, resulting in more aircraft.

It doesn't need to be spotter-friendly, because it is not aimed at spotters. Le Bourget is about announcing big contracts and drinking Champagne to seal these. If you bring the public days to the middle of the event (if general people will show up anyway then, due to work or school), the business people will leave before the middle of the event to avoid the general public, taking their stuff with them, if they show up at all for an event that looses its appeal to them before half a week has passed.