Farnborough Firsts
The site has been associated with aircraft and airships since 1908 when the Balloon Equipment Store was moved from Greenwich and renamed the HM Balloon Factory.

Most of the aircraft built during the First World War were designed at Farnborough. Farnborough became famous for testing new planes to see how fast they could go.

In 1908 the first powered, sustained flight in Great Britain was made at Farnborough, by a man called Samuel Franklin Cody, a US citizen.

Samuel Cody built the British Army Aeroplane No. 1 in 1908 and flew it on three occasions at Farnborough in that year. He flew 304 feet on 29th September and 200 feet on the 14th October. On the third and final flight on 16th October he flew 1390 feet. The flight ended when the wing touched the ground as Cody attempted to turn, and the machine crashed.

The sound barrier was broken at Farnborough in 1948 by John Derry.

Farnborough Airfield has been home to the Farnborough Airshow since 1948, when it opened its gates to the public for the first time. 2008’s show was a celebration of the Diamond anniversary of the show, alongside the anniversary of 100 years of British powered flight.

The Comet, the world’s first airliner, made its debut at the show in 1949.

Concorde made its UK debut at Farnborough in 1970.

The Airbus A380 made its UK debut at Farnborough in 2006

The World’s Largest Temporary Exhibition!

• The “build up” period takes four months prior to the start of the show.
• 3,600 tonnes of temporary structures are transported to the show site.
• 90,000 sq m’s of structures are erected on site, providing tailor-made floor space that would accommodate London's Royal Albert Hall no fewer than 30 times!
• Some 6,000 contractors will be on site at peak time to create the exhibition halls, chalets, company facilities and public dining areas.

FIA 2008

• US$88.7 billion worth of business was announced at the 2008 show (2006 figure was US$42 billion).
• 285,636 visits took place during show week 2008 – 132,636 trade visitors and 153,000 public visitors. 
• 1,393 exhibitors purchased 110,491 sq metres of space – a 7% increase on 2006 space sales.
• The show enjoyed representation from 40 countries.
• There were 29 national and regional pavilions.
• 70 delegations from 38 countries visited 151 companies, resulting in 603 company meetings.
• International Youth Day welcomed 435 14-16 year olds and 125 17-20 year olds on Friday 18 July 2008.
• 165 aircraft took part, whether on static display or in the daily flying display.

FIA 2010

• US$47 billion of business announced at the show
• 120,000 trade visitors over five days
• 108,000 public visitors over two days
• Total number of visitors over the FIA period was 228,000
• 1,455 exhibitors from 40 countries
• 107,498 sq m of exhibition space sold
• 22 international pavilions and eight national pavilions
• 70 delegations from 44 countries
• 152 aircraft participated both on static display and flying
• 46 companies held 800 meetings with 159 suppliers on a two-day business-to-business ‘Meet your Buyer’ programme
• Futures day, Friday 23 July 2010, hosted 2781 young people