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Farnborough set for 'bumper' show
 The Red Arrows: Farnborough regulars QUICKVOTEYOUR E-MAIL ALERTSLONDON, England (CNN) -- Organizers of the Farnborough Airshow are promising that this year's event will be the biggest in the 58-year history of the show. "All indications are that this is going to be a bumper event with better facilities than ever before," Farnborough spokesman David Dorman told CNN. "We're going to have a whole range of commercial and military aircraft on display, both on the ground and in the air." Almost 1,500 exhibitors from 36 countries have registered for the July 17-23 show, representing a 100 percent increase on 2004 figures, Dorman said. Sponsorship has also doubled since the last show two years ago -- Farnborough is staged every two years, alternating with the Paris Airshow -- while more than 100 exhibitors are due to display for the first time. Despite attendances reaching almost 250,000 in 2004 and business totaling $20 billion, Dorman said Farnborough had worked hard with exhibitors and sponsors to ensure the 2006 show is an even greater success. "The 2004 show was regarded as quite flat. Organizers have been to all the exhibitors and got their feedback. The big companies like Boeing and Airbus are working with Farnborough more than ever before so you have bespoke chalet and exhibition facilities. The show will look quite a lot different to before." With more than 160 aircraft already lined up to take part, Farnborough Managing Director Trevor Sidebottom said visitors could look forward to "the biggest line-up of display aircraft for several years." The undisputed star is set to be the Airbus A380 superjumbo, which makes its UK airshow debut after visiting Heathrow on a test flight earlier this year. "We consider Farnborough important enough to have a good display of aircraft," Airbus Marketing Vice President Colin Stuart told CNN. "It has become to some degree a corporate communications exercise rather than a sales exercise. On the internal side it's very much a case of looking after our customers and making sure they're getting what they want. On the external side it's good for the world to hear what Airbus is up to." Another exhibit expected to catch the eye is the U.S. military's V-22 Osprey Tilt Rotor -- which has the ability to operate as both a helicopter and a long-range cruising aircraft and is scheduled to make its first ever transatlantic flight to attend the show. The latest Russian Mig-29OVT also makes its first European appearance alongside other fighter jets including the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Boeing F-15 Strike Eagle and the Lockheed-Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon. Dorman also predicted strong interest in the corporate aircraft sector, with an expanded Business Aircraft Park featuring the Sino-Swearingen SJ30, billed as the world's fastest and longest-range light business jet. "One of the highlights is going to be business aircraft," said Dorman. "It's a booming market on several levels. There are big Boeing and Airbus jets then you go right down the scale to the VLJs (Very Light Aircraft), which are almost for a pilot and one or two people to fly in. What we are getting across is that we are appealing across all sectors of the aerospace industry." 
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