FIDAE 2006-WHAT A SHOW!!!
by Harold A. Coghlan
Harold A. Coghlan, a Lt Col in the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, owner of Birmingham based Magic Express Airlines and a internationally published author of safety and aviation articles was recently invited to attend the 2006 version of the Feria Internacional del Aire y del Espacio in Santiago Chile. This international air show and aircraft exhibit is commonly known in the world as FIDAE, and is the third largest aviation show in the world, after the London-Farnborough and the Paris Airshows. Here is an exclusive article for the readers of "Alabama Aviator", the premier aviation internet news source in the state (www.alabamaaviator.com), along with exclusive pictures.
Harold Coghlan was invited by the FIDAE 2006 organizers to attend the world famous air show/exhibition, as well as attend a conference on Aeromedical Evacuation, presented by many distinguished civilian and military aviation and medical experts from around the world. Colonel Coghlan would not have been able to visit as many events and see all the aircraft displays had it not been for the special assistance provided by the Airshow's Executive Director, Chilean Air Force Colonel Arturo Merino, and the expert help of Ms. Vilma Vega Berrios, an executive from the FIDAE 2006 Press Section. My many thanks can never be enough to convey my true feelings.
FIDAE 2006 was held for the first time in the Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport of Santiago, Chile, on the northeast corner of the airport by Runway 17L, near the facilities used by the Air Force's Group 10 (Transport). Previously this international Airshow, one which normally attracts over 100,000 visitors, was held at the other main airport in Santiago, the Cerrillos Air Base. The FIDAE international airshow has been held in Santiago every two years since 1980, when it was held for the first time at the Chilean Air Force Base "El Bosque", home of Chile's Air Force Academy.
Due to the popularity of the show, and the increasing numbers of visitors (both international and locals), the decision was made to move the show to this new venue at Arturo Merino Benitez Airport. I can attest the new location is working great! It was amazing that Santiago's busy airline airport could be used for an airshow of this magnitude, since it would require constant coordination between the airshow coordinators (Chilean Air Force Flight Operations personnel) and the civilian Air Traffic Control facility. The 17L runway was used primarily for the airshow, with about 10-15 air display events planned each day (from F-16 to B-1B to Airbus Jetliners doing demos), while runway 17R accommodated about one commercial airline departure or arrival about every 90-120 seconds, all day long. As a professional pilot and a school trained safety officer, I was duly impressed by how smoothly the operation went. There were no near misses, no accidents, no incidents, and no unscheduled go-arounds for either runway in the seven days I was there, truly a great performance and a credit to the Chilean Air Force as a whole, and to their smart fighter-pilot Commander in Chief, General Osvaldo Sarabia Vilches, an experienced Mirage pilot whom I have personally known and admired for over 24 years.
The sheer numbers of the show are impressive: FIDAE 2006 lasted 7 days (5 days open only to aviation professionals, and 2 weekend days open to the general public), there were 46 countries represented by exhibits, there were 120 aircraft in display (both static and in flight displays/demo flights), and the officially recorded attendance was 134,000 professional visitors and 91,000 general public visitors, for a grand total of 225,000 visitors. As I stated before, FIDAE is the third largest air expo in the world, and the largest by far in South America. Other shows have tried to get started in this region, such as LABACE in Brasil, and the airshow in Toluca, Mexico, but they just can't compete with the organization and popularity of FIDAE.
What kinds of aircraft were in exhibit? Just about anything an aviation enthusiast would want. For example, military aircraft such as the F-15, F-16, F-5E, A-37B, B-1B, KC-10, S-3A, C-130, UC-35 (Citation), C-21 (Lear), C-12F (King Air), T-6A Texan II, UH-60, UH-1H, SA-330, SA-120, British "swing wing" Tornado Mk-4, French made Mirage 2000, Mirage 50, Mirage 5, Brazilian AMX fighter and Super Tucano ground attack plane. For the person interested in civilian aircraft there were airliners, such as Boeing B-737NG, Airbus A-319 and Airbus Business Jet. There were also plenty of corporate jets and other civilian planes, such as Falcon 900, Falcon 7X, Gulfstream 550, 500, 450, 200 and 100, Lear 45XR, Lear 60, Lear 40XR, Cessna Grand Caravan, C-182, Citation Excel, Citation Sorveign, Raytheon Premier I, King Air 200, King Air 350, Sirrus SR-22, and plenty of turbine helicopters such as Bell 407, Bell 430, Schweitzer/Sikorsky 333 as well as Eurocopter EC-120, EC-145 among others. Of course there were older planes in exhibit too, such as PT-17 Stearman, T-34 Mentor, DH-115 Vampire, T-33A, Bell 47, and a beautiful flying example of a PBY Catalina used till today in forest fire work. There were plenty of light aircraft too, such as Cessna, Beechcraft and Piper products, to include the locally manufactured and JAA Certified two seat composite light plane, the ENAER Eaglet, and the Military primary pilot trainer, the T-35 "Pillan".
Here in FIDAE 2006 you also get to see some out of the ordinary planes, stuff you don't see in every other major show, such as the Argentinian designed AT-63 "Pampa" Attack/Lead-in Advanced trainer, the Chilean/Israeli modified Mirage 50 "Pantera" with canards and long nose, and the Chilean/Israeli modified F-5E "Tigre III", all three aircraft equipped with modern MFD and advanced weapons, such as AAM and Laser guided weapons. You can also see Russian made aircraft like the KA-32 and MI-17 helicopters, which are attracting attention from both commercial operators as well as military forces in the region. Like I said, there's enough in FIDAE to satisfy the most discriminating eye (and I don't mean those beautiful "senoritas" that work the exhibit booths).
For those pilots among us that enjoy watching a great aerobatic team, or a super individual demo pilot putting their steed through it's paces, FIDAE 2006 had plenty to showcase. For example, the superb Brazilian Air Force's "Fumaca" ("Smoke") aerobatic team, with it's seven Embraer Tucano turboprop planes was just outstanding. Picture the Canadian Snowbirds, but flying even closer, and you get the idea! The Chilean Air Force's "Halcones" team, winner of many international aerobatic team awards such as the "Best Air Display" at the UK's Royal International Air Tattoo, the "Sir Douglas Bader" trophy, and the "Best Team Aerobatics" at the world aerobatic competition held in France displayed a magnificent 5 aircraft team flying Extra 300 aircraft. What is amazing too is that the Halcones were pulling between 6 and 9 G's wearing no G-suits, doing a show that lasted about 20-25 minutes of constant maneuvering. Awsome!
Among the jet fighters that flew beautiful (and loud, but that's part of it) acrobatic and tactical demonstrations were the USAF F-15 and F-16, the RAF's Tornado, and France's Mirage 2000. Chile was demonstrating for the first time their new, shiny F-16 Block 50 aircraft, with new, more powerful engines, and new helmet mounted AA misile firing system that allows them to fire their new Israeli 4th generation missiles at aircraft well outside the normal firing envelope. The USAF B-1B bomber performed daily displays, and impressed all during low and high speed passes. Not to be outdone, eager fighter pilots put older jets through their paces, such as the A-37B, the F-5E and the Mirage 50 Pantera and Mirage 5 MIRSIP, all doing their best to present their favorite plane in exciting aerobatic and simulated combat maneuvers.
Three planes that made an impression on me because they were designed to fit lower cost military budgets were the Brazilian "Super Tucano", the Argentinian AT-63 "Pampa", and the Chilean T-35 "Pillan". The Super Tucano is a turboprop fighter that is plenty fast (over 330 kts), well armed (two 0.50 cal guns, Sidewinder like IR AAM along many other things), designed to patrol the vast Amazon region and intercept drug runners. What a brilliant solution to a local problem! Instead of purchasing only 3 or 4 high tech new jet fighters (that might cost $ 50 Million dollars apiece), Brazil will be able to buy about 30-40 simpler turboprop fighters, which in turn might help them stop the drug smuggling that seems to occur in and around the Amazon. The Argentinian Air Force upgraded a low tech jet trainer (the T-63) with advanced MFD's in the cockpit and weapons computers, to allow new fighter pilots to get experience in advanced aircraft, without the high cost of operation of new fighters. Once the new pilots build some good tactical experience, they can progress to more advanced jets. This jet trainer seemed docile enough to have low approach speeds under normal circumstances (100-110 Kts), yet the Instructor Pilot can plan on partial flaps for the approach and then use a higher speed that simulates more advanced and heavier jets (140-160 kts). Overall, a good budget idea for any Air Force, but certainly a good idea for military forces with limited budgets. The Chilean T-35 Pillan is a two place, low wing, piston powered trainer that is very stable to fly, yet fully aerobatic, and able to train new pilots at a fraction of the cost of the newer jet trainers (such as the BAE Hawk) or turboprop trainers, like the PC-9 or T-6A Texan II. Interistingly, the Pillan has been exported to a number of foreign countries, such as Spain (80+), Panama, Paraguay, and others.
FIDAE 2006 will be remembered for a long time as a great airshow, with a diverse mix of civilian and military aircraft, along with a lot of other aerospace technology in exhibit (avionics, satellites, airport navaids, computers, rescue vehicles and more), plus a fantastic, week long aerobatic show performed by some of the best performers in the whole world. This proves that Alabama Aviator will go to the far corners of the world (literally) to bring you aviation news!!!
Photos: All photos taken by Harold Coghlan exclusively for Alabama Aviator readers
