Paris Air Show - F-35 is too old already

No US military aircraft in Paris flying display

By: GHIM-LAY YEO

WASHINGTON DC

Source: 

17:05 24 Mar 2015

US military aircraft will be absent from the flying display at this year Paris air show, although show organisers are holding out hope that the Bombardier CSeries would make its major show debut at the event.

"No US military aircraft will fly at the show," says the Paris air show's managing director Gilles Fournier. "I'm disappointed."

The Paris air show is on the list of approved trade shows for the Department of Defense. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which coordinates US defense participation at the shows, was not immediately contactable for comment.

Show organisers also do not expect an appearance by the Lockheed Martin F-35, they told reporters today at a press briefing in Washington DC.

Northrop Grumman, which missed the Paris air show in 2013, will sit this show out as well. Northrop has chosen to focus on regional shows in the recent years instead, notes Fournier.

The Paris air show will take place on 15 to 21 June. While the show organisers are still in the process of firming up the aircraft that will be on display, Fournier says the Airbus A350 will fly. Less tentative is an appearance by the CSeries. "Bombardier has to confirm," says Fournier, adding that he believes there is a "90% chance" that the in-development narrowbody would make its major air show debut at Paris.

A Bombardier spokesperson did not immediately respond to queries. Fournier says: "My point of view is that the CSeries should be there. They already have five flight test aircraft."

Show organisers are expecting the Dassault Falcon 8X ultra long-range business jet and the Textron AirLand Scorpion to display at the show, although it is not certain yet that either type will fly. Unmanned aerial vehicles will not fly at the event, says Fournier, citing French civil aviation regulations. "In 2017, we hope that it will be possible then to fly big UAVs at the show."

The 51st Paris air show is slated to host more than 2,200 exhibitors this year and 285 official delegations, say organisers. Representatives of the Russian government have been invited, says the show's chief executive and chairman Emeric d'Arcimoles when asked.

Last year, the UK government barred Russian delegates from attending the Farnborough air showand refused to issue them visas. The UK government attributed the snub to Russia's actions in Ukraine.

While the Russians have been invited for the Paris air show, show organisers have not received any requests for Russian aircraft to feature in the flying display, says d'Arcimoles