First 5 Airshows In The World
Since the dawn of time, we have always been captivated by the magnificence of the sky and the prospect of travelling great distances in a short amount of time by flying freely in the air just like birds.
Today, aviation technology is at its height and continues to develop thanks to brilliant and hardworking scientists and engineers, making distant places that would otherwise be extremely burdensome to reach easily accessible for all of us.
Aside from providing us with an efficient way of transportation, aircraft industry also gave us a wonderful form of entertainment called “airshows”.
An airshow is a social event in which aircraft are displayed. Airshows usually involve the demonstration of aerial-acrobatics that require high levels of skill and expertise. First starting in the early part of the 20th century, airshows still hold their popularity among aviation enthusiasts.
If you want to know when and where this incredible spectacle has started, let’s explore the history of airshows and learn about the first 5 airshows in the world.
Internationale Luftschiffahrt-Ausstellung, Frankfurt, Germany (July – October 1909)
The first ever airshow in history was “Internationale Luftschiffahrt-Ausstellung” held in Frankfurt, Germany. It started on 1909, July the 10th and ended on the 17th of October, lasting for nearly a hundred days and attracting many aviation enthusiasts from all around the world. It lay the groundwork for “ILA Berlin Air Show”, one of the biggest and most prominent aerospace trade fairs in the world. The latest ILA Berlin Air Show was held in April 2018 and it attracted many professional and amateur aircraft admirers.
Grande Semaine d’Aviation de la Champagne, Reims, France (August 1909)
Sponsored by wealthy champagne producers, Grande Semaine d’Aviation de la Champagne was held for 8 days in August, 1909. The meeting featured many challanges for the competitors and inspired John Moisant to become a pilot.
International Air Meet at Dominguez Field, Los Angeles, USA (January 1910)
One of the first airshows in the world, International Air Meet at Dominguez Field was the first large airshow in the United States and it was held for 10 days from January the 10th to January the 20th, 1910.
Harvard-Boston Aero Meet at the Harvard Aviation Field, Massachusetts, USA (September 1910)
The Harvard-Boston Aero Meet was held for 10 days in September, 1910 and offered $90,000 in prize money. Wright brothers were one of the participants and the show greatly inspired Harriet Quimby, the first female pilot in the US, to become interested in aviation.
Belmont International Aviation Tournament, New York, USA (October 1910)
Among the first airshows in the United States, Belmont International Aviation Tournament was held in October, 1910. The show attracted many skilled aviators and featured numerous competitions including ones for the best speed, most error-free landing and highest altitude.
Conclusion
In short, airshows are a popular spectacle attended by hundreds of thousands of people every year and they have a long and interesting history. Since the first one that was held, they’ve had a huge part in changing the notion that aircraft were merely a boring form of transport and showing the general public that airplanes can be fun and interesting machines.
So, if you’re wondering what sorts of incredible maneuvers an airplane can pull off in the hands of a professional, you might want to visit an airshow and see it for yourself.
References Anon. (n.d.), Air show, Wikipedia, Retrieved 21 February 2021 < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_show >
Onkst, D. H. (n.d.), The First U.S. Airshows–the Air Meets of 1910, U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission, Retrieved 21 February 2021
Anon. (n.d.), List of air shows, Wikipedia, Retrieved 21 February 2021 < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_air_shows >
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