ILA Berlin Air Show
By: Frank GrealishDate: 31st May & 1st June 2008
Location: Berlin - Schonefeld (SXF / EDDB), Germany
The 2008 edition of the ILA air show, which was first held in Frankfurt in 1909, was held at Schonefeld Airport in Berlin from May 27th until June 1st.
ILA, which stands for Internationale Luftschiffahrt Austellung (translated as International Airship Show), is an air show / trade show that is held in Germany every two years, making it one of the world's longest running air shows.
With a display area covering 250,000 square metres, ILA 2008 boasted some impressive statistics:
- 241,000 visitors of which 120,000 were trade visitors
- 1,127 exhibitors from 37 countries
- 331 aircraft on display
- EUR 5 billion in orders & contracts
- EUR 3.2 billion order placed for 35 aircraft by Gulf Air (Bahrain)
This year ILA had an international partner in the form of India. India had its own pavilion at the show and brought along numerous examples of the HAL Dhruv helicopter including those flown by the Sarang Display Team.
2008 also marked the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift and ILA commemorated the event by having a Douglas DC-3, Douglas Dakota (RAF military version of the DC-3) and a Junkers Ju-52. As part of the commemoration of the airlift the US Air Force also displayed one of its Boeing C-17 Globemaster III which was appropriately named "The Spirit of Berlin".
