Aerospace enthusiasts will no doubt have already marked the 14-20th July 2008 in their diaries as the dates of this year's Farnborough International Airshow. This will be the 46th Farnborough Show, and  an especially important year for the biennially-held week-long fair, not least because this July marks the diamond anniversary of the airshow, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the first show to be held at Farnborough in 1948. But equally importantly, 2008 is also the 100th anniversary of the first controlled flight in the UK, which took place in Farnborough by Sam Cody in 1908, forty years before the air show was introduced to the site, and part of the reason why Farnborough is considered by many to be the birthplace of British aviation.
 The fair has grown over the last 60 years and today attracts over 1400 international exhibitors from all areas of the aerospace industry as well as being the major public showcase for modern aviation.

The week of events will be  split into two sections: the first five days are aimed towards those in the aerospace industry, providing a forum for the demonstration of aircraft and technological advances to possible corporate investors. The ever-increasing exhibition space, including the innovative new 'crystal palace'  which will combine a display area, meeting rooms and a new high-profile dining and bar area. As in previous years, the final two days of the fair will be open to the public for aerospace enthusiasts to enjoy the fair's many displays and exhibitions. In addition, there will be a number of activities to entertain the whole family, including fairground rides, face painting and a range of children's arts and crafts attractions. Finally, each day of the airshow will of course include the show's trademark flying displays. One of the biggest draws of the whole festival, the displays typically begin in the early afternoon, lasting for around four and a half hours. A range of aircraft are incorporated, from historic civilian planes to modern military craft, and of course, the iconic aerobatics of the Red Arrows.