2009 Paris Air Show
I have been coming to Paris for several years now but I can never seem to work my trips to sync with the Paris Air Show (only the greatest air show in the world!). This year, I did not even plan it – it just happened!
What makes the Paris Air Show the best air show? Size does come into play. In a way, it reminded me of the Frankfurt Auto Show by the number of things (not just airplanes and helicopters) on display. Where most car shows just have on display, Frankfurt offers you just about anything related to a car. The Paris Air Show does the same: need a new landing gear for your Boeing? There were some on display. Need to send something into space? The Russians and Europeans certainly had you covered. Do you need missiles, attach helicopters, radars or anything else to start a small war? It’s all there. Even my own Mexico was there with a display! And these were just the displays inside the halls.
Outside you could find all sorts of flying machines from a big fan and parachute to strap on to fighter jets like the Typhoon to the latest airliners like the Airbus A380. There were also plenty of vintage airplanes from both the Allied and Axis powers. Texas boys even showed up with their Air Tractors that can be used as crop dusters, for fighting firers and even for military purposes. There was a good mix of general aviation airplanes (including LSAs and Experimentals), corporate jets, military airplanes and airliners on display.
The air show itself was about what I expected and like what I remember from Oshkosh, Houston or Chicago (but no one was rescued from the water like in Chicago but they did have one helicopter haul off several soldiers hanging by a rope – sorry, I saw this happening as I was heading out the door so I don’t have pictures). I was expecting to see airplanes that I would normally not see perform in the USA, like European or Russian airplanes, and I was not disappointed.
One thing that I liked about this show was that you were allowed to bring your own food and drinks. I did not know this until I was inside. I was a little envious of the other spectators that had staked out their spot on the grass to have a picnic and watch the show. Of course, since this is the Paris Air Show, there were plenty of wine bottles being uncorked. (It seems that in the USA your bags are inspected so you will not be a threat to the concession stands’ profits.)
I happened to be there for the last day of the show but it did not feel like the event was coming to an end. I even left a little early – 9 hours seemed like enough. As I was boarding the free shuttle bus to take me back to the RER train station there were still airplanes in the air.
