The Berlin Air Show kicked off this week with a record 1,000 exhibitors from 40 countries showcasing their latest innovations — among them the world's largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380 "superjumbo."
The double-deck A380 is, however, just one of nearly 300 aircraft from companies and militaries around the globe on display at the six-day show taking place at the German capital's Schoenefeld Airport.
The organizers, the German Aerospace Industry Association (BDLI) and Messe Berlin, are expecting more than 230,000 people to visit the show when it swings open its doors to the public this weekend.
The air show is, however, first and foremost a gathering for civilian and military aerospace industry professionals.
This year, Russia is playing the role of partner nation at the show, which is also known by its German initials ILA.
More than 70 Russian aerospace companies are in Berlin, and the Russian military is demonstrating the maneuvering abilities of its Mig-29M Fulcrum fighter for the first time outside Russia.
A number of U.S. companies, including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Sikorsky and Bell Helicopter, are also on hand, while U.S. Army and Air Force is displaying an array of helicopters and planes.
The Berlin Air Show takes place every two years and is regarded one of Europe's most important aviation industry fairs, along with Le Bourget in France and the Farnborough Air Show in Britain.
It is also the world's oldest air show, tracing its history back to July 10, 1909 — just beating Le Bourget, which started on September 25 the same year.
3 website links to more information on the biggest airbus
( Same idea as America's Beoing 777 )
http://www.germany.info/relaunch/info/publications/week/2006/060512/economy1.html
http://www.airbus.com/en/
http://www.ila-berlin.com/ila2006/home/index_e.cfm
The double-deck A380 is, however, just one of nearly 300 aircraft from companies and militaries around the globe on display at the six-day show taking place at the German capital's Schoenefeld Airport.
The organizers, the German Aerospace Industry Association (BDLI) and Messe Berlin, are expecting more than 230,000 people to visit the show when it swings open its doors to the public this weekend.
The air show is, however, first and foremost a gathering for civilian and military aerospace industry professionals.
This year, Russia is playing the role of partner nation at the show, which is also known by its German initials ILA.
More than 70 Russian aerospace companies are in Berlin, and the Russian military is demonstrating the maneuvering abilities of its Mig-29M Fulcrum fighter for the first time outside Russia.
A number of U.S. companies, including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Sikorsky and Bell Helicopter, are also on hand, while U.S. Army and Air Force is displaying an array of helicopters and planes.
The Berlin Air Show takes place every two years and is regarded one of Europe's most important aviation industry fairs, along with Le Bourget in France and the Farnborough Air Show in Britain.
It is also the world's oldest air show, tracing its history back to July 10, 1909 — just beating Le Bourget, which started on September 25 the same year.
3 website links to more information on the biggest airbus
( Same idea as America's Beoing 777 )
http://www.germany.info/relaunch/info/publications/week/2006/060512/economy1.html
http://www.airbus.com/en/
http://www.ila-berlin.com/ila2006/home/index_e.cfm
