Farnborough Airshow through the years - in pictures

  • The Farnborough Airshow in Hampshire has played host to the latest and greatest from the aerospace industry since 1948. Here, 'The National' takes a look back at 74 years of aviation. All photos: Getty Images
    The Farnborough Airshow in Hampshire has played host to the latest and greatest from the aerospace industry since 1948. Here, 'The National' takes a look back at 74 years of aviation. All photos: Getty Images
  • An Avro Lincoln, developed from the Lancaster bomber, on display at the 1948 Farnborough Airshow.
    An Avro Lincoln, developed from the Lancaster bomber, on display at the 1948 Farnborough Airshow.
  • A formation of RAF de Havilland Vampire jets in flight at the Farnborough Airshow in 1950.
    A formation of RAF de Havilland Vampire jets in flight at the Farnborough Airshow in 1950.
  • A young visitor stands by the wheel of an Avro York transport plane at Farnborough Airshow in 1950.
    A young visitor stands by the wheel of an Avro York transport plane at Farnborough Airshow in 1950.
  • A child is carried away from the scene of a crash at the Farnborough Airshow in 1952. A prototype de Havilland DH 110 jet fighter crashed during a display, killing 27 people.
    A child is carried away from the scene of a crash at the Farnborough Airshow in 1952. A prototype de Havilland DH 110 jet fighter crashed during a display, killing 27 people.
  • Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, inspects aircraft at the Farnborough Airshow in 1952.
    Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, inspects aircraft at the Farnborough Airshow in 1952.
  • The Handley Page Victor, a four-jet crescent-wing bomber that became part of the UK's V Bomber nuclear force along with the Vulcan and the Valiant, makes an appearance at the Farnborough Airshow in 1953.
    The Handley Page Victor, a four-jet crescent-wing bomber that became part of the UK's V Bomber nuclear force along with the Vulcan and the Valiant, makes an appearance at the Farnborough Airshow in 1953.
  • Farnborough Airshow crowds and dignitaries watch RAF Hawker Hunter jets perform a display in honour of the Royal Aircraft Establishment's jubilee in 1955.
    Farnborough Airshow crowds and dignitaries watch RAF Hawker Hunter jets perform a display in honour of the Royal Aircraft Establishment's jubilee in 1955.
  • A cameraman stands on the roof of his estate car to get footage of the 1956 Farnborough Airshow.
    A cameraman stands on the roof of his estate car to get footage of the 1956 Farnborough Airshow.
  • A Hawker Hunter equipped with rockets flies over the Farnborough Airshow in 1956.
    A Hawker Hunter equipped with rockets flies over the Farnborough Airshow in 1956.
  • Visitors queue to have a look inside a Bristol freighter at the 1956 Farnborough Airshow.
    Visitors queue to have a look inside a Bristol freighter at the 1956 Farnborough Airshow.
  • Enthusiasts stand on chairs in the rain to get a better view of the aircraft as they fly past at the Farnborough Airshow 1956.
    Enthusiasts stand on chairs in the rain to get a better view of the aircraft as they fly past at the Farnborough Airshow 1956.
  • A formation of 16 Hawker Hunter jets of a Royal Air Force aerobatic team flying at the Farnborough Airshow in 1959.
    A formation of 16 Hawker Hunter jets of a Royal Air Force aerobatic team flying at the Farnborough Airshow in 1959.
  • A Saunders-Roe hovercraft, with a group of Royal Marines on board, on display Farnborough Airshow in 1959.
    A Saunders-Roe hovercraft, with a group of Royal Marines on board, on display Farnborough Airshow in 1959.
  • A Westland Widgeon helicopter hovers above the Farnborough Airshow crowd in 1959.
    A Westland Widgeon helicopter hovers above the Farnborough Airshow crowd in 1959.
  • Spectators shield their eyes against the sun at Farnborough Airshow in 1959.
    Spectators shield their eyes against the sun at Farnborough Airshow in 1959.
  • A worker cleans a transparent model of the supersonic passenger airliner Concorde at a British Aircraft Corporation exhibit at Farnborough Airshow in 1966.
    A worker cleans a transparent model of the supersonic passenger airliner Concorde at a British Aircraft Corporation exhibit at Farnborough Airshow in 1966.
  • Smoke rises after a French Navy long-range maritime patrol Breguet 1150 Atlantic aircraft crashed into buildings at the Farnborough Airshow in 1968. Five crewmen were killed.
    Smoke rises after a French Navy long-range maritime patrol Breguet 1150 Atlantic aircraft crashed into buildings at the Farnborough Airshow in 1968. Five crewmen were killed.
  • Members of the RAF's Macaws, the College of Air Warfare's Jet Provost T-4 aerobatic display team, at Farnborough Airshow in 1972.
    Members of the RAF's Macaws, the College of Air Warfare's Jet Provost T-4 aerobatic display team, at Farnborough Airshow in 1972.
  • Pilots Maj James V Sullivan and Maj Noel F Widdifield of the US Air Force meet the press at the Farnborough Air Show in 1974, after setting an air speed record by flying the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird from New York to London in less than two hours.
    Pilots Maj James V Sullivan and Maj Noel F Widdifield of the US Air Force meet the press at the Farnborough Air Show in 1974, after setting an air speed record by flying the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird from New York to London in less than two hours.
  • The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird in 1974.
    The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird in 1974.
  • A prototype Concorde takes off from Farnborough Airshow in 1974.
    A prototype Concorde takes off from Farnborough Airshow in 1974.
  • The Westland Wisp, a radio-controlled, unmanned miniature helicopter designed to take pictures in dangerous and difficult to reach places, on display at Farnborough Airshow in 1976.
    The Westland Wisp, a radio-controlled, unmanned miniature helicopter designed to take pictures in dangerous and difficult to reach places, on display at Farnborough Airshow in 1976.
  • A Hawker Sea Harrier and a 'ski jump' launcher on display in at Farnborough Airshow in 1978.
    A Hawker Sea Harrier and a 'ski jump' launcher on display in at Farnborough Airshow in 1978.
  • Prince Charles, with his brothers Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, inspect the Tornado multi-role combat aircraft and its payload at Farnborough Airshow in 1978.
    Prince Charles, with his brothers Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, inspect the Tornado multi-role combat aircraft and its payload at Farnborough Airshow in 1978.
  • A US Air Force B-2 Spirit bomber approaches a KC-135R Stratotanker for refuelling for the flight back home after the stealth aircraft made a 21 hour non-stop round-trip flight to make a fly past at the 1996 Farnborough Airshow.
    A US Air Force B-2 Spirit bomber approaches a KC-135R Stratotanker for refuelling for the flight back home after the stealth aircraft made a 21 hour non-stop round-trip flight to make a fly past at the 1996 Farnborough Airshow.
  • In 2000, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, consisting of an Avro Lancaster bomber, a PR XIX Supermarine Spitfire, and a MkIIc Hawker Hurricane, was at the Farnborough Airshow.
    In 2000, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, consisting of an Avro Lancaster bomber, a PR XIX Supermarine Spitfire, and a MkIIc Hawker Hurricane, was at the Farnborough Airshow.
  • The new Airbus A380 double decker airliner comes in to land over a double decker busses in the 2006 Farnborough Airshow.
    The new Airbus A380 double decker airliner comes in to land over a double decker busses in the 2006 Farnborough Airshow.
  • The tilt-rotor Bell/Boeing V-22 Osprey manoeuvres at the Farnborough Airshow in 2006.
    The tilt-rotor Bell/Boeing V-22 Osprey manoeuvres at the Farnborough Airshow in 2006.
  • An member of the Italian Air Force crew demonstrates the capabilities of the Typhoon Eurofighter during a flight simulation at Farnborough Airshow in 2010.
    An member of the Italian Air Force crew demonstrates the capabilities of the Typhoon Eurofighter during a flight simulation at Farnborough Airshow in 2010.
  • Members of the public look inside a JF-17 Thunder jet fighter developed by Pakistan and China at 2010's Farnborough Airshow.
    Members of the public look inside a JF-17 Thunder jet fighter developed by Pakistan and China at 2010's Farnborough Airshow.
  • The Blades British civilian flying display team perform at Farnborough Airshow in 2010.
    The Blades British civilian flying display team perform at Farnborough Airshow in 2010.
  • A crew from Wattisham army base in Suffolk with an Apache AH1 Helicopter at Farnborough Airshow in 2010.
    A crew from Wattisham army base in Suffolk with an Apache AH1 Helicopter at Farnborough Airshow in 2010.
  • A Typhoon Eurofighter touches down at Farnborough Airshow in 2010.
    A Typhoon Eurofighter touches down at Farnborough Airshow in 2010.
  • An Airbus A380 comes into land after putting on a performance for the crowds at Farnborough Airshow in 2014.
    An Airbus A380 comes into land after putting on a performance for the crowds at Farnborough Airshow in 2014.
  • A visitor sits in a model of a Lockheed Martin F-35 Lighting stealth fighter, which was big news at Farnborough Airshow in 2014.
    A visitor sits in a model of a Lockheed Martin F-35 Lighting stealth fighter, which was big news at Farnborough Airshow in 2014.
  • Military helmets on display at the Farnborough Airshow in 2014.
    Military helmets on display at the Farnborough Airshow in 2014.
  • Visitors take pictures as an Airbus A380 performs for the Farnborough Airshow crowd in 2014.
    Visitors take pictures as an Airbus A380 performs for the Farnborough Airshow crowd in 2014.
  • Evolving technology: high-performance remote-controlled aerial target drones used by the US Air Force on display at Farnborough Airshow in 2014.
    Evolving technology: high-performance remote-controlled aerial target drones used by the US Air Force on display at Farnborough Airshow in 2014.
  • British prime minister David Cameron meets aircrew at the Farnborough Airshow in 2016.
    British prime minister David Cameron meets aircrew at the Farnborough Airshow in 2016.
  • Britain's Red Arrows fly in formation around a Spitfire at the Farnborough Airshow in 2018.
    Britain's Red Arrows fly in formation around a Spitfire at the Farnborough Airshow in 2018.
  • British prime minister Theresa May talks with guests as she opens the 2018 Farnborough Airshow. An Airbus A-400 Atlas looms in the background.
    British prime minister Theresa May talks with guests as she opens the 2018 Farnborough Airshow. An Airbus A-400 Atlas looms in the background.