From Bleriot flight to Indonesia Air Show '96

JAKARTA: In the big scheme of things, aviation is relatively young. Barely 100 years old, given the Dec. 17, 1903 historic flight by the Wright brothers, aviation has seen tremendous growth. From its simple bicycle beginnings to the leap into outer space.

Ever since the Wright brothers' flight, aeronautics engineers have designed thousands of civilian and military airplanes in as many shapes and sizes. Many have left their vapor trails across history. The planes usually climbed their way into history at an air show.

The need for an air show manifested itself following the Wright brothers' visit to Paris in 1908. At the time Paris was already Europe's aeronautics center. Then, two days after a meeting in Port Aviation in Juvisy, outside of Paris, on May 23, 1909, Juli Louis Bleriot flew across the English Channel in a monoplane he had designed himself. To mark his success, an aeronautics week, the Grande Semaine d'Aviation de la Champagne, was held in Reims from Aug. 22 to Aug. 29, 1909.

The event was followed by an international air show at the Grand Palais on the Champs Elysees from Oct. 3 to Oct. 17 of the same year highlighted by flight demonstrations in Juvisy. The event, the official being Le Salon International de l'Aeronautique et de l'Espace de Paris-Le Bourget, laid the foundations for the famous Paris-Le Bourget air show.

England, not wanting to lag behind in the arms buildup before World War I, immediately held a flying demonstration in Doncaster and Blackpool on Oct. 15, 1909.

The development of air shows in England is closely related to the role of the Society of British Aerospace Companies, previously called The Society of British Aircraft Constructors. It started organizing air shows in 1918.

The first real air show in England was held in Olympia, London. After the Hampshire airfield was built in 1948, Farnborough became famous worldwide as the place where the best aircraft, equipment and technology were displayed. The show was held annually until 1962. Since then it has become biannual, but it continues to be held in September.

To date, there have been 41 Paris shows and 48 Farnborough shows.

Paris and Farnborough still dominate the air show circuit, retaining their top position despite the mushrooming of air shows in other parts of the world. Economic growth and progress in the aeronautics industry has led to an increase in shows.

Singapore's Asian Aerospace and the Dubai Air Show in the United Arab Emirates are among the successful new shows.

From their beginnings as a place for aircraftmakers to display their new designs and reveal the capabilities of their aircraft, air shows have expanded to display related aspects and technology, from engines to the tiny screws holding jumbo jets together.

Much has changed. Europe is no longer the political or economic center, its place being taken by the Asia-Pacific region. Singapore started its bi-annual Asian Aerospace in 1981. As the number of participants continues to increase, Asian Aerospace has earned an international reputation and is considered the most important air show after Paris and Farnborough.

The economic growth enjoyed by the region has enabled certain countries to purchase sophisticated aircraft. The growth in tourism and increase in business travel within the region has also fostered the purchase of aircraft.

The void left in the region since the Cold War has allowed suppressed conflicts to trickle to the surface and has led to an arms race. Many countries are buying combat planes, citing outdated systems and equipment as the reason behind the air power buildup. Regional power holders prefer the word "modernization" to the term arms race.

Regardless of the terminology, the purchases helped make Asian Aerospace a success and was followed by the first Indonesian Air Show in 1986.

Similarly, the Dubai Air Show strives to accommodate the dynamics of the Middle East following the Gulf War in 1991. The Gulf is rife with potential conflicts, and is therefore a ripe market for combat aircraft.

The Asia-Pacific region, however, will see the biggest growth in the field. One indication was that the Singapore air show was followed by DSA 96 5th Defense Services Asia Exhibition and Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in March this year and will be followed by similar events in South Korea and China to be held in October.

Outside the above mentioned events, there are other shows in South Africa, which took place in April this year, the Oshkosh show in Wisconsin, the U.S. in Moscow and in Avalon, Australia.

Aircraft producers, users and service providers interact at the shows, exchanging information and seeing what and how other companies are doing.

Producers expect to profit from taking part in a show, although most do not believe in instant contracts. Buying an aircraft is not simple, involving numerous studies and consideration.

Aside from the coveted contracts, air shows are about witnessing the latest in aerospace, and sometimes the drama that goes with it. The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber created a myth when it appeared for an hour in Paris in 1991, stunning spectators with its bat-shaped giant wings.

Disaster has struck at numerous shows. The 1989 Paris show was marred when a MiG-29 Fulcrum pilot lost control and smashed into the ground. The pilot managed to eject 30 meters from the ground.

Although air shows are basically based on the display and promotion of war machines, they are also a place to learn how humans strive to fly faster and produce bigger aircraft. Behind it all are brilliant aeronautics engineers, fantastic billion- dollar contracts, and brave pilots whose daring maneuvers often cause spectators to hold their breath in awe and suspense.

Visitors to the 1996 Indonesian Air Show will be able to witness all this during the week-long exhibition and demonstrations which start today.

-- Angkasa