This year the International Space and Air Show (SIAE) was held from June 19 to June 15, from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM at the Bourget exhibition center. But what exactly is this Bourget Air Show, this much-awaited event that took place across 75 hectares, 80,000m² of halls, and 35,000m² of stalls?

This international fair has existed since 1909. In the beginning, only a section of the automobile faire was dedicated to “things of the air.” The first time the fair was devoted entirely to air travel, the Blériot XI – the aircraft with which Louis Blériot crossed the English Channel for the first time – was presented. Over the years, the show has contributed to advances in aeronautics and space technology: presentation of the Messerschmitt and the Spitfire air combat aircraft in 1938, the mythical La Caravelle aircraft in 1955, the unforgettable Concorde, and the Airbus A380 in 2005 …

The Solar Impulse 2, the first solar airplane to fly around the world without the slightest drop of fuel, was shown in 2011, That year, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was also presented.

The SIAE is a necessity for all passionate aeronautics aficionados looking for something new. In 2013, the fair became the third international event to receive the ISO 20121 eco-responsible label, with a renewal of this certification in 2016. In 2015, the trade fair achieved record attendance, with 150,000 trade visitors and 200,000 public visitors. It has approximately 2,400 exhibitors in 2017, with the presence of 300 official delegations (half the Ministry of Defense, 40 Chiefs of Staff, 59 civil aviation delegations, 90 institutional delegations, and ministers from different countries …). The new French President Emmanuel Macron was also present.

This fair is therefore the premier global meeting of the aeronautics industry, attracting thousands of people and presenting industry innovations. It is one of the most important international exhibitions of aeronautical and space equipment.