At this week’s Paris Air Show 2019 (17-23 June), Airbus has been presenting a broad range of products, technologies and services; the company is also celebrating its 50 years in aerospace with daily flying displays.

These include an A350-1000 and an A330neo (this offers significant ‘fuelburn’ improvements over its predecessor). This weekend will also see a Hi-Fly A380 flying, while the static display includes the Vahana — Airbus’s single-passenger (or cargo) all-electric fully autonomous, vertical-take-off and landing demonstrator.

Airbus Helicopters (www.airbus.com) has been showing a full-scale mock-up of the new H160M, alongside a Tiger HAD and a mock-up of the front section of the NH90 for ‘special forces’. Also on show is a VSR700 unmanned reconnaissance helicopter, which has been designed to provide navies with extended surveillance capabilities.

Meanwhile, Airbus Defence and Space is showing a number of aircraft, including: the latest variant of the Eurofighter combat aircraft; an A330 MRTT (multi-role tanker transport) aircraft; a full-scale mockup of Europe’s ‘medium-altitude long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft system’ (EuroMALE RPAS) — plus smaller UAVs.

Airbus has four display areas: the ‘Future of Flight’ display shows how Airbus is further improving its portfolio and changing the future of mobility; ‘From Data to Insight’ highlights the company’s vision for defence and security, including how it is harnessing the power of data through digitalisation initiatives such as the Sky-wise and Smartforce analytics platforms; ‘A Safer World’ features Airbus’s military aircraft programmes; and the ‘Space’ area features various animated holographic space scenarios.