ILA 2010
The highlight of the ILA Berlin Air Show 2010 was for sure the first public appearance of the new Airbus Military A400M transport aircraft. Though any other real big highlights were not on the list, the trip to Berlin was once again worthwhile due to the sheer variety of different aircraft, which numbered nearly 300.
Where? Berlin, Germany
When? 08-13/06/2010
Unfortunately the A400M was only present from Monday to Thursday, thus leaving the show before the gerneral public, or taxpayers…, were allowed on the showground. Its stunning display presented twice during the show would really been appreciated by them as well. however a stringent flight test schedule made the early departure to Toulouse necessary. Breath taking were not only the bank angle with more than 110° during the flight demo, but also its display area crossing during the rehersal that caused the display to be interrupted and repeated later on.
Another big beast presented by Airbus was the Airbus A380. During the whole duration of the show three different aircraft were present: Lufthansa's 1st A380, an Emirates A380 and the Airbus test aircraft for the flight display - unfortunately not all three of them were present at the same point of time.
What else was going on at Berlin? Of course the German Luftwaffe did "set up a showpiece" to present its aircraft. The scenario was first to gain aerial superiority – with two Eurofighters against two Aggressor Phantoms… - and then to clear using Tornados before the extraction of hostages. Furthermore the aerial refuelling capability was demonstrated yb the Airbus A310 MRTT. Unfortuantely this display took only place when there was no good weather around Schönefeld, though temperatures at this ILA easily reached +30°C on several days.
The Eurofighter solo display routine in contrast was presented on a Luftwaffe jet but with a pilot of EADS at the controls:
The Heeresflieger did cancels their demonstration due to financial constraints, only a Bo105 and CH-53 were presented in solo displays. The NH90 and Tiger displays were still contributed by Eurocopter.
Talking about noisy jets ILA 2010 presented also a lot of technology. Headed by the amazing fleet of DLR aricraft from a H2O-powered sailplane up to the Airbus A320 a Diamond DA42 demonstrator aircraft powered by algae produced fuel was seen daily in the flying program.
Of course it was also "100 Jahre" ILA, celebrating the 100th anniversary of ILA in 2009 with this year's airshow. Because of the this the organizers succeded in bringing at least one aircraft of each decade to Berlin, resulting in a very good variety in the flying program of the "Berlin Air Show" held over the week-end during the public days.
The Static Display area was extensive, but the aircraft nevertheless densly packed in their barriers, and well filled up, though a huge variety, especially in the military field, was somehow missing. Attached are some images taken during my walks around the area, with a special highlight on the helicopters.
ILA 2012 will be held June 12th - 17th, 2012. With the opening of the Berlin's future common BBI airport the area has to move and will be located in the town of Selchow in the west of the airport, making then use of the future Southern runway.
Hopefully this solution will be in favour of the flying program, which took the burden of the many civil aircraft movements that already took place this time. Mainly these movements have all been of LCC, but this did add a lot of variety to my photo collection:
