SQEP had a great week with the opportunity to visit both RIAT and Farnborough!
Both shows are definitely heavy on the feet, but that’s indicative of how valuable it is to put in the leg work and get around everything they have to offer. Of course, they’re also very different in tone and focus. At RIAT, our team – many of whom are ex-RAF – gets a chance to catch up with old colleagues as well as marvelling at RIAT’s body-shakingly dynamic air displays. Farnborough is a technological spectacle that delivers a palpable sense of where our industry is heading, both commercially and militarily.
At RIAT, the F-16 Fighting Falcon’s display was made all the more impressive as 2024 marks its 50th anniversary. More than 4,600 have been produced to date, 25+ countries operate it, and production lines are backlogged with new orders. Amazing.
RIAT also marked the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) with visiting aircraft from NATO member states.
The Farnborough International Airshow led with six key themes: Defence, Space, Workforce, Innovation, Sustainability and Future Flight. Development in the last two of these was more evident than in any previous year, especially in terms of electric- and hydrogen-powered flight and e-VTOL platforms such as Joby, Lilium, Vertical and Wisk.
With SQEP’s integrated assurance expertise across both aerospace and environmental domains, these rapidly developing markets provided fantastic opportunities for the team to discuss some of the biggest challenges facing the industry today.
If that’s a conversation you’d like, please get in touch.
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