A Farnborough International Airshow landing
Posted on 12 August 2010 by k. a. gardner
JACKSONVILLE — Hampshire County in Southeast England was a major command area during the Second World War. Beyond the Royal Navy and Royal Army’s presence, a company named Supermarine designed military aircraft there, including the Spitfire - the legendary backbone aircraft of the Royal Air Force. This is, unfortunately, why the Luftwaffe bombed the region to smithereens. But despite that setback, the small town of Farnborough emerged as one of the world’s premier aviation centers.
Farnborough International Airshow 2010… A world of opportunities
Today the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) is a global aerospace event. A trade show of the airways, so to speak, for the commercial and defense aeronautical industries - from aircraft and avionics sales and leasing to logistical, manufacturing and maintenance services.
Of course major aircraft manufacturers showcase new products at an international airshow of this magnitude — the Boeing 787 Dreamliner made its inaugural non-stop flight from Seattle to Farnborough for the show.
Site consultants for Boeing had considered Cecil Field and Cecil Commerce Center as an assembly location for the Dreamliner according to John Haley, Senior Vice President of Business Development for the [non-profit] Cornerstone division of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Landing a major contract such as this is the reason a Northeast Florida (all seven counties!) delegation attended the July 19 – 25, 2010 Farnborough International Airshow.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route to FIA
The team included Nick Sacia, Executive Director of St. Johns County Economic Development [representing St. Augustine Airport Authority], Jacksonville Aviation Authority and Cornerstone. Its mission: extol the benefits of doing business in Jacksonville, America’s Logistics Center! Haley said teams spread out to cover fourteen appointments with aerospace corporations over a four-day period.
The team meets Monday, August 16th to organize strategic marketing plans moving forward.
The Northeast delegation was just one from the State of Florida. The state’s economic development organization, Enterprise Florida, was lead coordinator for Florida’s eight designated industry regions.
Florida’s aviation & aerospace industry counts nearly 2,000 aviation and aerospace companies that employ some 87,000 workers. NASA and the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, as well as Florida’s many U.S. military and air force bases are also key industry assets. The state’s excellent education, infrastructure and business development in Space and Aeronautics and its optimal geographic location and climate conditions also contribute to its leading role in the aerospace & aviation industry.
The U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James, Louis Susman, held a reception at Winfield House in Regents Park, London for all states attending FIA. As one would imagine, competition between states is fierce.
Scoring a contract such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner assembly plant (which was awarded to Charleston, South Carolina!) is the target destination. Last year, shortly after the 2009 Paris Airshow, French company Saft International announced plans to build a high-tech battery plant at Cecil Commerce Center.
NOTE: Updates as updates arrive from the upcoming secret strategy meeting on Monday.
Homepage feature photo:
The Red Devils Parachute Regiment Freefall Team AP/Sang Tan
The Parachute Regiment Freefall Team ‘The Red Devils’ is the official parachute display team of both the Parachute Regiment (The Paras) and the British Army.
Nicely written.
Doug, thank you. Nice of you to say.
That was interesting. You do make a good journalist feature writer.
And thank you, Tom and Icy. Just don’t repeat what you’ve said to anyone else, O.K.?
Cool freefalling.
Freefalling devils.