Held for the first time in 1909 as the Internationale Luftfahrt-Ausstellung (ILA) in Frankfurt am Main, this traditional event can now look back on a century of aviation history. Between 1912 and 1928 this air show fascinated visitors in Berlin, and after the Second World War it was moved to Hannover-Langenhagen Airport, where it remained for more than 30 years. Following an absence of 64 years, in 1992 the ILA returned to its original venue in Berlin/Brandenburg, attracting much attention as it resumed its place among the world‘s major trade fairs in this sector.

Since then it has been held every two years on the southern section of Berlin-Schönefeld Airport, which has been designated as the future Single Airport Berlin Brandenburg International (BBI). For a whole week the world’s aerospace industries present the entire range of current and future products and services featuring advanced technology for aviation and the space sector. With over 100 accompanying conferences and workshops the ILA is the focus of high level meetings by the representatives of politics, business, defence and research. Over 300 aircraft of all sizes and categories can be seen on the ground and in the air. The ILA is organised by the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) and the executive company is Messe Berlin GmbH. At its location in Berlin/Brandenburg this international show for the trade and the public, with accompanying conferences, covers every aspect of aviation and space flight. The ILA is also the only European aerospace show that is equally accessible from Western, Central and Eastern Europe.

Birthplace of aviation in Berlin/Brandenburg

The long history of the ILA began in the early years of the last century with the introduction of the first Internationale Luftfahrt-Ausstellung – ILA (International Aviation Exhibition) in 1909. Airships dominated this initial event, although aircraft could be said to have had their origin as far back as 1891 with the first flight by Otto Lilienthal from a hill known as Windmühlenberg in Brandenburg. Lilienthal’s flights, using gliders, formed the basis for the development of aviation, a process which is still as dynamic today as it was then. The pioneering achievements of daring pilots and the advances in aircraft construction created a need for initiatives that would enable the latest achievements in aviation to be presented to a wider public. It was the Frankfurt city authorities who made the breakthrough, by setting up the first International Aviation Exhibition in Germany. The very first ILA lasted some 100 days, from 10 July to 17 October 1909, and was not only the world’s first independent air show but also the first international platform for communicating ideas about aviation technology in this emerging industry. It was followed a few weeks later by the Air Show at Le Bourget, which opened on 25 September 1909. In the summer of 1909, after just one year’s preparation, the organisers of the ILA were able to present a comprehensive review of the latest developments in airship construction and aviation technology in Germany to experts and a fascinated public alike.

Airships from constructors such as Zeppelin, Parseval, Clouth and Ruthenberg were on show, along with balloons and many other exhibits. “Flying apparatus and models” were, however, still in the minority. “The extent to which the ILA promotes the idea of aviation can be judged by the numbers of people who were keen to undertake flights in untethered balloons, an activity that had previously been on a par with tightrope-walking”, as the aviation pioneer Georg von Tschudi wrote later in his memoirs. The star of the show was a Wright Brothers’ aeroplane, which had been giving flying displays in Berlin and was brought to Frankfurt for a week. Germany’s hopes rested on the biplane constructed by August Euler. By the time it closed the first ILA had attracted 500 exhibitors and one and a half million visitors. And even at that time it was very much a business trade fair. “The ILA was concerned solely with business”, as Orville Wright noted in a letter.

Following the first ILA, the various different flying associations joined together in 1910 to form the federation known as the Deutscher Fliegerbund, at the instigation of August Euler. The aviation industry association Verein Deutscher Flugzeugindustrieller was founded one year later in Frankfurt am Main. In this way a direct link was established between the ILA and the organisation that later became the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI), which still exists today. Since the days when Lilienthal was carrying out his first experimental flights the Berlin-Brandenburg region has always been closely linked with develop-ments in aviation in Germany and on a wider international scale. It is therefore not surprising that the events that followed on from the first ILA should have been held at the “birthplace of human flight”.

The “Yellow Dog”, a great commercial success

In 1912 the ALA (General Aviation Show) in Berlin presented German aircraft engineering capabilities in this historic setting. Aircraft dominated for the first time: there were 25 of them, compared with just seven airships. During the opening ceremonies the aviation pioneer Hellmuth Hirth, then just 26, made a circuit over the halls, not even ten years following the very first powered flight. All the best known aircraft manu-facturers of the time were present in Berlin. One of the highlights was August Euler‘s biplane known as the “Gelber Hund” (Yellow Dog), to which a sign was attached shortly thereafter stating: “Eight sold in one day”. There was a great deal of interest in Rumpler’s “Tauben-Limousine”, a model of an aircraft designed to carry three passengers in a fully enclosed cabin. Another of the attractions was a monoplane built by Prince Friedrich Sigismund of Prussia, with a particularly robust landing gear. A lot of attention also focused on the monoplane constructed by Dr. Fritz Huth, with a cigar-shaped fuselage made entirely of metal.

1928: “Oktoberfest” on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds

Almost 20 years after the first ILA and ten years after the end of the First World War another International Aviation Exhibition was held in Germany, in October 1928, and once again the venue was Berlin. At the time there was great public acclaim for the first East to West crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, by a Junkers W 33 “Bremen”, crewed by Köhl, von Hünefeld and Fitzmaurice. This achievement also alerted the American public to Germany’s capabilities in aviation technology, and helped to swell the crowds who attended the ILA’28 on the Exhibition Grounds on Berlin’s Kaiserdamm. The event was organised by the aircraft industry association Reichsverband der Deutschen Luftfahrtindustrie in association with the Exhibition, Trade Fair and Tourism Office of the City of Berlin. The aircraft industries of 19 countries staged their displays in three exhibition halls in the shadow of the radio tower, the Funkturm, that had been erected just two years previously. Between 7 and 28 October 1928 the public and the experts alike were able to admire some 150 aircraft, many aero-engines and almost everything else connected with aviation. All the well-known German aircraft manufacturers presented their latest developments, ranging from a lightweight sports and training aircraft, the BFW M 21, to the four-engined Dornier Superwal. With more than 150 aircraft “Deutsche Luft Hansa” was at the time the world’s largest airline and was also represented at the ILA, where it promoted the advantages of air travel. One of the main attractions of the ILA 1928 was a rally to Berlin-Tempelhof involving 40 aircraft, and 21 of the participants who started off eventually landed there.

1932: Focus on aviation as sport

Four years later, in 1932, the German Air Sport Exhibition (Dela) provided an in-depth look at aviation as a sporting activity. The list of exhibitors read like a who’s who of German aviation companies. Focke-Wulf, Heinkel, Klemm, Messerschmitt – they all came to Berlin. Among the exhibits was a study for a “flying car” (designed by Ludwig and Mertens) with a folding, three-piece windmill-type wing. Also on show was the “weekend aircraft of the future” – a flying boat with a spacious cabin and “engines which could be maintained while in flight, and which could be augmented by a liquid-fuelled rocket to improve take-off performance”. The highlight of the exhibition consisted of 100 aircraft from all over Germany, which took off from Berlin-Tempelhof Airport for the “Grand Dela Aviation Day and Air Race”. For many years this was the largest air show in Germany, because the ILA did not take place while the national socialists were in power.

A new start in Hannover-Langenhagen

After the Second World War, after Germany had regained control of its own airspace in 1955, the foundations were created for the establishment of the “International Touring Aircraft Show”, which subsequently took place in 1957 at Langenhagen airfield during the Industries Fair. This was the precursor of almost thirty years of the ILA in Hannover. An industrialist with a particular enthusiasm for aviation, Hary von Rautenkranz, played a large part in setting up the show in 1957 and put a great deal of effort into developing this project. Despite the fact that only 17 names appeared on the list of exhibitors the show proved to be a success, with 24 aircraft on display and some 20,000 visitors during the four days of the event. Business was conducted there too: “The participating aircraft companies and their representatives occupied booths for discussions in a spacious marquee, and this was a scene of much activity”, according to a report on the show. The decision was taken to organise an annual air show, beginning the next year, thus preparing the way for the post-war ILA.

By the end of the 1950s the reviving German aviation industry needed a forum covering other aspects apart from just air travel. With this in mind, in 1958 the BDLI, founded in 1955 as the successor to the Reichsverband der Deutschen Luftfahrtindustrie, created the “Special Show for Aircraft, Aviation Equipment and Accessories” parallel with the German Industry Fair. A total of54 companies came to Hannover-Langenhagen Airport. German exhibitors presented 13 post-war sports and passenger aircraft, two gliders and the Fouga Magister, the first jet trainer produced under licence in Germany for the country’s air force. Foreign exhibitors brought 15 sports and passenger aircraft to Hannover. The German aviation equip-ment manufacturer Autoflug attracted much attention with demonstrations of its ejector seat.

From 1959 onwards: “German Aviation Show“

The 1959 show was officially opened by the Federal Minister for Economics, Ludwig Erhard, the “founder of the social market economy”. From now on it was known as the “German Aviation Show”. Visitors (who were charged two deutschmarks for admission) were able to see 16 German sports and passenger aircraft, including the Dornier Do 27 and the RW 3 from Rhein-Flugzeugbau, as well as 15 foreign aircraft such as the Italian Falco F8L and the Helio H 391B “Courier” from the USA. Never-theless a number of large firms chose not to attend, and it seems that this event did not satisfy the needs of all companies.

However, the “German Aviation Show” achieved its breakthrough in 1960. As the news agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported: “The success of the German Aviation Show in Hannover exceeded all expectations”. Manufacturers of passenger and sports aircraft, military aviation companies, helicopter makers, aircraft engine manufacturers, equipment suppliers, a total of 170 firms from eight countries, and more than 100,000 visitors, came to Hannover. The Federal Defence Minister Franz-Josef Strauss joined in the tour at the start of the event. More than 50 passenger and sports aircraft were sold during the fair. The programme of demonstration flights and aerobatic displays included 2,000 take-offs and landings. The powerful single-seat Lockheed F-104 “Starfighter” demonstrated its rate of climb, while almost daily a Lufthansa Boeing 707 circled the runway. When the show was over the BDLI decided to hold this event every two years, alternating with the Aérosalon in Paris.

The “German Aviation Show” achieved even greater success in 1962, when the organisers attracted 237 exhibitors from nine countries, and an attendance of some 175,000. While sports and passenger aircraft dominated on the open air grounds the emphasis in the halls was on military aviation. With the growing importance of space flight a large area was also devoted to this subject, with models of the third stage of the Black Prince satellite launcher, a development project that was subsequently incorporated in the Ariane rocket.

The “German Aviation Show” continued to expand in 1964: 280 exhibitors from 15 countries presented their products, along with more than 100 aircraft. The construction of a third hall meant that the covered display area was increased by a third. The German VTOL aircraft, the VJ 101 (VJ stands for the German word for “experimental fighter”) made its debut in Hannover. This experimental jet aircraft produced by Entwicklungsring Süd attracted considerable international attention. There were plenty of opportunities to admire the HFB 320 Hansajet from Hamburger Flugzeugbau GmbH too, the first jet passenger aircraft to go into series production in Germany. For visitors with a particular interest in space flight there was a 1:2 scale model of the Europa 1, which subsequently became known as the European launcher Ariane.

In 1966 the joint stands of the French aviation industry association and the British Ministry of Aviation indicated that the aviation sector in Europe would in future be collaborating on a much wider scale. As stated in a newspaper report, 94 of the “most modern and most interesting aircraft in the world”, could be found in Hannover in 1966: They included the “Skyservant” from Dornier, a multi-role utility aircraft for transport and special duties, and the new C-160 Transall military transport. A special attraction announced by the organisers was provided by the daily formation flights by representatives of the French, Italian and British air forces.

The undoubted star of the show in 1968 was Dornier’s experimental aircraft, the Do 31 E. The world’s only transport aircraft with vertical take-off and landing capability, thanks to its vectored thrust engines, was demonstrated in flight to fascinated spectators. The demonstration of another VTOL aircraft, the VFW-Fokker VAK 191 B, designed for reconnaissance and combat duties, was no less spectacular.

In 1970, for the first time since the Second World War, the Soviet Union brought two of its aircraft to Hannover. The Russians presented the Kamov KA-26, a light, multi-role helicopter with two contra-rotating three-bladed rotors, and the Yakowlev Yak-40, a three-engined, short haul passenger jet. Just under 460 exhibitors from 14 countries came to Hannover on this occasion. One of the most popular demonstrations in that year was of the British jump-jet, the Hawker Siddeley “Harrier Mark 1”. And in 1970, unmanned aircraft for special civil and military operations were also on show for the first time.

The star of the show in 1972 was the supersonic passenger aircraft made by the Russian Tupolev company. Its Tu-144 remained in Hannover for the entire duration of the air show, whereas the Anglo-French Concorde only flew in for one day. During the flying display the MBB Bo 105, the first series production multi-role helicopter to be built in Germany, attracted a lot of attention: a test pilot flew three successive loops, previously only possible with propeller-driven aircraft or small jets. The air show set a new record in Hannover with 200,000 visitors.

The German Aviation Show celebrated a number of debuts in 1974, including the European wide-body Airbus A300, in which Germany played a significant part. The Alpha-Jet trainer, a joint Franco-German project involving Dornier and Dassault-Breguet, also made its first appearance. Another eye-catching newcomer also demonstrated the strengths of the German aviation industry: the VFW-Fokker VFW 614 short haul passenger jet, whose test pilot Leif Nielsen, demonstrated some of the capabilities of this compact jet. Spectators held their breath as, following a sudden, steep take off, at an altitude of 400 metres, the aircraft was joined by the Airbus A300 and a Fokker F 28. Germany’s skills in space research were demonstrated using two full-size mock-ups of the Spacelab, which had been made for use in the US Space Shuttle.

By way of contrast, in 1976 visitors’ interest was focused above all on the new Panavia Tornado multi-role combat aircraft, two examples of which were on display. Its brilliant flying displays delighted spectators. Dornier provided something for fans of veteran aircraft with the twin piston-engined Do 335A-02 fighter: this carefully restored aircraft with its distinctive rear-mounted pusher propeller had been sent over from the USA. In addition to a Junkers F.13 and a Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun spectators were also able to enjoy the sight of a legendary red Fokker Dr. 1 triplane.

ILA has been using its original name again since 1978

Fifty years on from the event of 1928 the air show reverted to its original name, when it became the ILA again in 1978. From this time onwards the International Aerospace Exhibition was no longer held to coincide with the Hannover Fair, thus giving it a greater measure of independence. The German President Walter Scheel came in person to see the latest develop-ments in Hannover: These included the LTA (“Light Transport Aircraft”) project for a new feeder/multi-purpose jet-prop aircraft, and the New Technology Wing (TNT) from Dornier. Just under 60 sports aviators assembled at Braunschweig Airport on the final stage of their ILA rally. The ILA Flying Day on 4 May attracted almost 51,000 people, and the organisers recorded a total attendance of 230,000 as well as 352 exhibitors from 13 countries, making the old and new ILA a complete success.

With 364 exhibitors, visits by large delegations from the USSR and the People’s Republic of China, and an extensive programme of conferences, by 1980 the ILA had acquired even greater importance. Spectators were fascinated to see the giant Lockheed C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft and the AWACS system used by NATO. In civil aviation Dornier attracted a great deal of attention with its E-1 (later the Do 228-100) and E-2 (subsequently the Do 228-200) turboprop projects. The BK 117 multi-role helicopter, the result of a joint venture between MBB and Kawasaki of Japan, also interested many visitors.

In 1982 Federal Chancellor Helmut Schmidt became the first head of a German government to open the ILA. Among the aircraft he saw were the shortened Airbus wide-body aircraft, the A310, which was making its world debut. There were also debuts for the Diamond I business jet from Mitsubishi Aircraft International and for the Piper Commuter T-1040. Once again there was an impressive display by the formation flying team Patrouille de France, which painted a tricolor over the skies of Hannover with its eight Alpha jet fighters.

In 1984 it was the displays which formed the main attraction for spectators at the ILA, with aerobatics, formation parachute jumps and the skills of the five aerobatic teams. One of the main technical attractions made use of some ideas from the past: Gyroflug Ingenieur-Gesellschaft presented its two-seater “Speed-Canard” which, at first glance, does not seem to conform to normal ideas about what an aircraft should look like. However, back in 1903 the Wright brothers also employed the canard principle, with additional wings mounted right at the front of the fuselage, to provide additional lift.

The ILA featured a German-Chinese project in 1986: MBB signed a contract in Hannover with the People’s Republic of China for the joint construction of a regional aircraft. The 75-seat MPC-75 was to be powered by propfans and equipped with computerised controls and wings made of synthetic materials, but in the end it was never built. There was a lot of excitement surrounding the first four-nation presentation of the Eurofighter, and a full-size model of the new combat aircraft was on show. The actual star of the ILA 1986 was already 50 years old: the typical droning sound announced the arrival of the legendary Junkers Ju-52 with the registration D-AQUI over Hannover. Known affectionately in Germany as “Tante (Aunt) Ju”, it began its new life following more than a year’s restoration work.

The ILA 1988 also saw the “small” Airbus A320 for short and medium haul routes make its highly celebrated German debut. However, its revolutionary electronics with fly-by-wire controls did provoke a discussion about basic principles among pilots. There were numerous new develop-ments in the fields of sports and passenger aviation. The Beechcraft Starship on display in that year was the prototype of its new generation of aircraft, while Ruschmeyer presented the recently completed four-seat MF-85, made of synthetics, in public for the first time. The stand of the ESA space agency attracted many visitors, and was dominated by a full-size model of the European Hermes space glider.

In 1990, the year following German re-unification, Russian companies demonstrated many innovations in Hannover. Tupolev exhibited its Tu-155 testbed with engines capable of operating either on hydrogen or methane. Antonov showed off its impressive An-124 “Ruslan” transporter, while Ilyushin exhibited its propfan-powered Il-76. Domestic companies attracted attention, among them Grob with its G 520 Egrett reconnaissance aircraft. This was the last ILA to take place in Hannover because the BDLI decided to relocate this event to Berlin, the former capital and now the new capital again, and to completely revise the ILA concept in order to create an international trade fair and congress for the entire aerospace industry.

Back to its origins in Berlin/Brandenburg

The far-reaching political and economic changes that took place in Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall made it possible for the ILA to return to its historical location. The ILA ‘92 (15 –21 June) at Berlin-Schönefeld Airport underlined the claims of this event to be one of the world’s major aero-space exhibitions. Its appeal was also enhanced by a return to its former location at the heart of an increasingly integrated Europe. As the most easterly aerospace fair in the West, and the most westerly fair in the East, the ILA fulfilled an important role as a hub for East-West contacts in the aerospace sector. 517 exhibitors from 23 countries presented their latest products and services to the 134,281 visitors. Airbus took this opportunity to present the European aircraft industry’s showpiece, still undergoing test flights at the time, at the ILA. With test pilots Udo Günzel and Bill Wainwright at the controls, the Airbus A340 came to Berlin for a three-day visit. For the first time at any air show Dornier presented its ultra-modern 30-seat Do 328, which can cruise at a speed of 640 kph. Among the aircraft making their debut at the ILA were the Grob GF 200 business aircraft with rear-mounted propeller, and the Jetstream 41 turboprop from British Aerospace. The programme of flying displays, which was subject to the strictest conditions following the accident at Ramstein in 1988, included impressive contributions by some of the aircraft used by the CIS air forces, such as the Sukhoi Su-24 and MiG-29, as well as the German air force’s Tornado combat aircraft.

The fact that the International Aerospace Exhibition is so strongly oriented towards business and the market led to the development of the “ILA means business” concept at the ILA ‘94 (28 May – 5 June). In addition to the specialist exhibition by the German and international industries, with 422 exhibitors from 27 countries, there was also an extensive programme of conferences and the introduction of the new and unique East/West Aerospace Center at the ILA‘94. An East-West shuttle was set up specially for visitors from Moscow, enabling them to travel to and from Berlin in one day. The ILA also provided its 141,000 visitors with a highly attractive programme of information and displays. For example the Myasischtschev design office from Russia displayed its high altitude M-55 Geofisika aircraft in the West for the first time. Lufthansa brought the latest addition to its fleet, the Airbus A321, to Schönefeld. A total of 252 different aircraft could be seen at the “ILA Aviation Experience”. And if that was not enough, the Space Action Hall used optical illusions to enable visitors to experience a landing approach by a spaceship on Mars and Venus. On a sad note, the Russian pilot Alexander Viatkin was killed during a safety acceptance flight for the programme of flying displays on the day prior to the opening of the ILA. His death led to the establishment of the Mayday Foundation, which has been providing support for distressed aviators and their dependants ever since.

With a record number of exhibitors, 578 from 30 countries, the ILA ‘96 (13-19 May) featured the entire range of products and services from the world of aerospace technology. The extensive conference programme comprised 59 conventions by national and international organisers. Once again the East/West Aerospace Center proved its value as a catalyst for East/West business. With 240 aircraft on the ground and in the air the ILA presented the largest range on offer at any comparable fair. They included the Airbus A300-600 ST “Beluga”, an enormous transport aircraft with a capacity of more than 45 tonnes. It dominated the open air grounds, which were thronged with people, especially during the weekend. The Eurofighter EF 2000 made its first demonstration flight at any air show. Other aircraft making their air show debuts included the Airbus A319 and NATO’s new NH 90 multi-role helicopter. In 1996 attendance totalled 216,500, including 75,000 trade visitors, on the exhibition site at Berlin-Schönefeld airport.

With 825 exhibitors from 32 countries, an attendance in excess of 226,000 (82,000 of them trade visitors) and 278 aircraft, the ILA ‘98 (18-24 May) was the largest and best-attended event ever. This is hardly surprising, considering that it was even advertised in space: during the Space Shuttle mission STS-89 in January 1998, after the shuttle had docked with the MIR space station, NASA astronaut Bonnie Dunbar greeted her Russian colleague with an ILA flag. Meanwhile, on the ground it confirmed its value as a central market place for all areas of aerospace business, including the announcement and signing of contracts worth tens of billions. The star of the flying displays was the giant military transport, the Boeing C-17. The ILA convention programme included more than 50 conferences. The special exhibition entitled “50th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift” was held in a 1,500 square metre marquee to commemorate what is still the greatest air transport operation of all time. For space enthusiasts the highlight was a full scale, accessible model of the European space laboratory COF (Columbus Orbital Facility).

With some spectacular contracts, more foreign and domestic trade visitors than ever, and high public attendances the ILA2000 (6-12 June) featured some significant decisions by the European aerospace industry and fulfilled the high expectations of the industry, as well as providing an outstanding programme of flying displays that delighted the public by presenting many fascinating aspects of aviation. Three and a half days were reserved exclusively for trade visitors, and total attendance on the southern section of Berlin-Schönefeld Airport totalled 212,000. By the time the half-way stage had been reached exhibitors had recorded contracts and options totalling over 50 billion DM. With these impressive achievements the ILA2000 again confirmed its role as a major European market place for the entire aerospace industry. With a record number of exhibitors, 941 from 38 countries, the seven-day ILA presented not only 316 aircraft but also numerous products, systems and services covering every aspect of aviation and space technology. During the flying displays spectators were fascinated by the aerobatic team of the Patrouille de France, and by the American stealth bomber, the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk, making its first appearance here. However, innovations in the aerospace sector do not always have to be large and spectacular, as shown by Innovint Einrichtungs GmbH. The world first that this Hamburg-based company introduced at the ILA weighed just 6.5 kilograms, and was the first child’s seat designed for use in passenger aircraft.

With contracts and joint venture agreements worth billions of euros, 1,067 exhibitors from 41 countries, 102,680 trade visitors from home and abroad and a total attendance of 215,150, the International Aerospace Exhibition ILA2002 (6-12 May) again confirmed its standing as a major European business centre for the entire aerospace industry. This successful event was rounded off by a new record total of 340 aircraft on display and an outstanding programme of flying displays. With its A340-600 and the new A318, Airbus exhibited its largest and its smallest models, while the Russian Beriev Be-200 amphibian was on show for the first time in Berlin. And how many air shows offer the chance to see an airship in flight? During the ILA flying display the 75 metre long Zeppelin Neuer Techno-logie (Zeppelin NT), the world’s largest and most up-to-date airship, flew over the amazed spectators. The constantly improving standards of professionalism and quality of the ILA were underlined by some 60 accompanying conferences, including leading political events such as the "XIX International Workshop on Global Security and the War on Terrorism", the Airbus Ministers’ Conference and the "1st International Parliamentarians’ Conference" . This trade fair also drew attention to its importance as a platform for a strategically vital industry with visits by prominent politicians, headed by the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schröder. Some 3,400 journalists from 70 countries reported on the events taking place at the International Aerospace Exhibition.

The eastward expansion of NATO and of the European Union were dominant features of the ILA2004 (10-16 May), which took place in a mood of confidence regarding the ongoing development of the industry. During the four trade visitors‘ days and the three open days some 201,500 visitors were registered, including 105,200 trade visitors. The ILA2004 was visited by more high-ranking delegations than ever before. Among those who were welcomed at this air show were the German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, Federal Ministers Wolfgang Clement (Economics), Peter Struck (Defence), Edelgard Bulmahn (Research) and Manfred Stolpe (Transport), the Government’s Co-ordinator for the German Aerospace Sector, Ditmar Staffelt, as well as 120 deputies from 22 European countries. Leading representatives from the new member countries of the EU and NATO made use of the ILA2004 to exchange views and information. For example, the defence ministers from Bulgaria, Georgia, Lithuania, the Ukraine and Turkey were among those who attended the “International Workshop on Global Security”. The four ministers with responsibility for the Airbus programme from France, the United Kingdom, Spain and Germany met at the Airbus Ministers’ Conference. The heads of the air forces of 19 European countries, ambassadors accredited to Germany and NATO ambassadors in Brussels, military attachés accredited to Germany and numerous delegations of economic policy-makers from many countries of Europe, North America and the Far East also attended the ILA2004 in search of information. There were more than 65 conferences at which some 6,000 experts from the various commercial sectors of the aerospace industry discussed current issues. For seven days 987 exhibitors from 42 countries occupied the southern section of Berlin-Schönefeld Airport to present the entire range of products and services featuring current and future developments in aerospace technology. A total of 331 aircraft, several of them making their debut, could be seen on the ground and in the air, including a new Russian medium haul jet, the 100 seat Tupolev Tu-334. By now in series production, the Eurofighter EF 2000 came to the ILA in 2004.

By the time it ended the ILA2006 had set an impressive attendance record. More than 251,000 visitors were registered between 16 and 21 May, including 115,000 trade visitors. 1,014 exhibitors from 42 countries presented products, systems and processes from every area of the aerospace industry during the trade show, which now ran for six days. Much interest was focused on the Airbus A380, the world’s largest ever commercial aircraft, which could be seen each day on the ground and in the air, providing an unprecedented attraction for the many spectators. The US air force flew in its massive and highly impressive long distance bomber, the Boeing B1-B Lancer, while Embraer from Brazil showed its Legacy 600 business jet for the first time in Germany. In addition to the Federal Minister of Economics Michael Glos, the ILA2006 was also visited by Defence Minister Franz-Josef Jung, Minister of the Interior Wolfgang Schäuble, Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee, the Minister at the Chancellor‘s Office Dr. Thomas de Maizière and the heads of the regional governments in Brandenburg and Berlin, Matthias Platzeck and Klaus Wowereit. A number of ministers from other countries also visited this event, accompanied by high-ranking delegations, thereby underlining the international importance of the ILA2006. Among them were, from the partner country Russia, the Minister of Disaster Relief Sergei Schoigu, the Minister of Defence of the Netherlands, Henk Kamp, the Greek Defence Minister Evangelos Meimarakis, the French Transport Minister Dominique Perben, the Slovenian Defence Minister Karl Erjavec, the Albanian Defence Minister Fatmir Mediu and the Ukrainian Industry Minister Volodymyr Shandra. In addition 70 parliamentarians from 17 European countries were welcomed at the ILA2006. Russia, which also had the largest international display, was the partner country at the ILA2006. The Russian display included the MiG 29M-OVT fighter, and pilot Pavel Vlassov gave several demonstrations of its extreme manoevrability in the skies over Berlin. Some 4,100 media representatives from 70 countries provided comprehensive coverage of the main technical themes and the attractions for the public at the ILA2006.

Between 27 May and 1 June the ILA2008 confirmed its reputation as a showcase for hi-tech industries as well as a major attraction for the public. The attendance of 241,000 nearly reached the record level set at the ILA2006 (250,000). Approximately 120,000 trade visitors came to find out about the products and services on offer on the 250,000 site, Germany’s largest temporary exhibition grounds, and to learn about the latest trends at more than 100 accompanying conferences. Contracts and business with a value of more than five billion euros were finalised during the event, including the largest known order ever for civil aircraft at the ILA, which was placed with Airbus by Gulf Air (Bahrain) for 35 aircraft worth 3.2 billion euros. For six days the record total of 1,127 exhibitors from 37 countries presented products, systems and processes from every area of the aerospace industry. Altogether 331 aircraft of all sizes and categories were on show on the ground and in the air, and many of them were making their first public appearance. The partner country India took full advantage of its largest ever appearance at any aerospace trade show outside its own borders to present its wide-ranging capabilities, including a display of the aerobatic qualities of its “Sarang” helicopter, and to explore new business opportunities. The ILA2008 was officially opened by Dr. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. One of the main themes of this year’s ILA was that of innovations intended to significantly reduce the emission of pollutants from aircraft. The international “Greener Skies Ahead” conference was attended by leading representatives of aircraft makers and aero engine manufacturers as well as from leading research establishments. The discussions dealt with the required technology, most of which is already sufficiently developed for use, as was demonstrated by the products and projects from the 24 exhibitors at the ILA “Path of Innovation”. In particular Airbus/DLR and Diamond Aircraft/Boeing showed that fuel cells, capable of operating without producing any emissions, can now be used in aircraft. At the ILA Space Pavilion a study conducted by German industry, ATV-Evolution, dealing with a European manned space project, was demonstrated for the first time in public. There was also a Career Center serving as a contact point and source of information for anyone considering a career in the aerospace industries. Some 4,300 media representatives from 70 countries provided comprehensive coverage of the main technical themes and the attractions for the public at the ILA2008.

The next ILA will take place from 8 to 13 June 2010, when the venue will again be the southern section of Berlin-Schönefeld Airport. This will be the tenth occasion that the ILA has been held there since it relocated to Germany's capital in 1992.