Insights into what goes on in various types of aircraft, meeting astronauts and pilots from a number of countries and the opportunity to operate the joystick of a flight simulator are just a few examples of the fascinating and informative entertainment that visitors to this event can enjoy.
As not all aircraft are being displayed throughout the show the organisers advise visitors to obtain details of the daily programme of flying displays and individual aircraft which are listed according to category: http://www.ila-berlin.de/ila2016/airshow/airshow.cfm.
The ILA Mobile Guide 2016 provides a complete guide to the ILA Berlin Air Show and can be downloaded onto a smartphone from any App Store free of charge.
Highlights of the aircraft displays at ILA 2016
Airbus A350 XWB (at the ILA from 1 to 4 June)
The A350 XWB is a twin-engined, wide-body airliner made by the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus and a passenger aircraft whose fuselage and wings are made primarily of carbon-fibre reinforced polymers.
Lufthansa Airbus A320neo (4 June)
The A320neo is the most recent addition to the Lufthansa fleet and its quietest aircraft. Featuring technologically advanced engines and improved aerodynamics it boasts a significant reduction in noise and CO2 emissions.
Emirates Airbus A380 (1 – 2 June)
Emirates is displaying its four-engined, wide-body A380 airliner made by the European manufacturer Airbus. The world’s largest production airliner has room for up to 853 passengers and features two full-size decks.
Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 ’winners aircraft’ (4 June)
Shortly before the Euros are due to begin Lufthansa will be at the ILA with the so-called ’winners’ aircraft’, a Boeing B747-8, which at 76.3 metres is the world’s longest passenger airliner. In the summer of 2014 it was this airliner that brought the German national team back home following their victory in Rio de Janeiro, which performed a flyby over fans gathered in the streets of Berlin.
Airbus A400M (1 – 4 June)
The Airbus A400M is a multi-purpose military transport aircraft. Measuring 45 metres in length it can airlift 37 tons, including armoured vehicles, over distances of up to 8,700 kilometres.
Airbus T.H.O.R. (1 – 4 June)
The Airbus Group is breaking new ground and has developed an aircraft that can be manufactured almost entirely by 3D printing. Measuring around 4 x 4 metres, the T.H.O.R. (Testing High-Tech Objectives in Reality) recently completed its maiden flight.
Airbus Helicopters Bluecopter (1 – 4 June)
With its combination of innovative, eco-efficient technology and a new helicopter design the Airbus Helicopters Bluecopter paves the way for a lower-noise, more fuel-efficient helicopter generation of the future.
Airbus A310 Zero G (1 – 4 June)
Formerly the ’chancellor’s Airbus’, this A310 Zero G now takes to the skies to conduct zero-gravity experiments and is Europe’s only aircraft capable of parabolic flight.
Antonov-178 (1 – 3 June)
Antonov, a manufacturer from Ukraine, is exhibiting its new twin-engined AN-178 transport aircraft which can airlift 18 tons over a distance of 1,000 kilometres, alternatively ten tons over 4,000 kilometres.
Eurofighter (1 – 4 June)
The Bundeswehr is also putting on an air display of Europe’s most advanced fighter jet. For the first time this aircraft will be taking off from the ILA runway.
USAF Boeing B-52 flyby (4 June)
This eight-engined, heavy-duty USAF long-distance bomber is scheduled to perform a flyby over the ILA display area.
Patrouille Suisse (3 – 4 June)
Established in 1964, Patrouille Suisse is among the public’s favourites at the ILA. A performance by the Swiss Air Force’s aerobatics team flying seven Northrop F-5E Tiger IIs will be one of the high points of the flying displays at the ILA Berlin Air Show 2016.
Extra 300 L (2 – 4 June)
At the ILA Air Show 2016 aerobatics pilot Uwe Wendt will perform a spectacular flying display in his Extra 300.
Black Cats helicopter display team (1 – 4 June)
The Black Cats, the Royal Navy’s helicopter display team established in 2001, will provide a further flying show highlight with two Augusta Westland Wildcat HMA2s.
Lilienthal’s glider (1 – 4 June)
The German Aerospace Centre (DLR) has built an exact replica of the world’s first production aircraft, made by Otto Lilienthal, and will be displaying at ILA 2016 to mark 125 years of manned flight.
1:4 scale model of Ariane 6 (1 – 4 June)
Europe is planning to put satellites into orbit from 2020 with the new Ariane 6 launcher. Depending on the payload, this rocket measures between 52 and 61 metres in length. Easily visible from a distance, a 1:4 scale, 17-metre tall model of Ariane 6 will stand beside the entrance to the ILA Space Pavilion.
Bundeswehr displays a wide range of exhibits
On an outdoor display area covering more than 10,000 square metres the Bundeswehr will have the latest information about the armed forces, together with an extensive range of exhibits. They include Eurofighter and Tornado fighter jets, A-400M, A-310 MedEvac, A-319, Transall C-160 transport aircraft, as well as CH-53, NH-90, Tiger, EC-135, Sea Lynx and Sea King helicopters. Besides numerous technological exhibits and aircraft various unmanned reconnaissance systems operated by the army and other forces will also be on display.
Among the exhibits shown by foreign armed forces will be a Polish Air Force MiG-29 and Suchoi Su-22 as well as a Czech Air Force Saab JAS-39 Gripen. The US Air Force will display a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, a transport aircraft which US President Bill Clinton christened ’The Spirit of Berlin’. Other displays include a Lockheed Martin C-130J transport aircraft and a Rockwell B1B Bomber. The US Air Force and Royal Air Force will be showing a CH-47 Chinook and AH-64 Apache helicopter respectively. The Mi 35 Hind, an export version of the heavy-duty attack helicopter made by Mil in Russia, will be exhibited by the Czech Republic.
The L410NG by the Czech manufacturer Let is a redesign of its lightweight, twin-engined, short-range transport aircraft. High points of the historic aircraft displays include a legendary DC-3 ’candy bomber’ which took part in the Berlin Airlift, a Messerschmitt Me 109 fighter from the 1930s/40s, and an Me 262, the first production jet aircraft.
Multi-purpose DLR research fleet
The German Aerospace Centre (DLR) will be strongly represented with its research fleet, which besides an A310 Zero G also includes a Discus-2c. The nose-mounted antenna features a sensor with five holes for precise airflow angle measurement. An A320 ATRA, an Airbus BO 105 helicopter and a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan will be on show throughout the ILA. The aircraft will demonstrate their research applications in the field of aerodynamics, in low-noise landings and remote reconnaissance missions.
Wide range of UAS applications
From 1 to 4 June ILA 2016 will highlight the market of the future with a UAS exhibition on the open-air grounds as well as with its own UAS displays in Hall 3. A total of around 40 exhibitors from 12 countries will present trends and innovative applications for UAS at the show. Flight displays will include the following: Multicopter, Songbird 1400, D-AERO Zero and D-AERO One. The Bundeswehr will be represented with several reconnaissance UAVs. They include a four-rotor LUNA, a tactical unmanned aerial system (TUAS), and an ALADIN reconnaissance UAS. At ILA 2016 the US Air Force will exhibit an MQ-9 Reaper/Predator, a UAV built by the US company General Atomics. Airbus Defence & Space SAS will be exhibiting its Heron TP, and the German manufacturer Reiner Stemme Utility Air Systems its unmanned single-engined Q01-100, a remote reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft.
The German Model Aircraft Association and the Chinese multicopter manufacturer Yuneec will present a new trend at ILA 2016: FPV Racing (First Person View). On a specially constructed race track on the outdoor display area at the ILA (Display G) professional pilots will fly their remote-controlled aircraft and provide a view from the cockpit.
Preliminary flight display schedule
Details of the ILA programme of flying displays may vary depending on the weather, air traffic conditions in Schönefeld or due to an altered schedule.
Wednesday, 1 June 2016, for trade visitors (10 a.m. – 6 pm.)