1.
GV People touring display
0.05

2.
CU ZOOM OUT Dornier experimental TNT
0.16

3.
CU Tornado F-2 fighter being towed
0.27

4.
AIR VIEW Tornado in flight
0.40

5.
SEMI-VIEW Supermirage 4000 being towed and taking off and in flight (4 shots)
1.17

6.
Sea Harrier hovering and landing
1.50

7.
GV Microjet in flight
2.05




Initials SW/



TELERECORDING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Farnborough Air Show opened on Monday (1 September) with some 500 firms from 18 countries displaying aerospace equipment against a background of flourishing business. Despite a world recession, airlines are in the market for new fuel-efficient aircraft and sales of combat aircraft are booming.

SYNOPSIS: Large crowds flocked to the preview on Sunday (31 August) and they made the war planes the centre of interest, although this West German experimental machine attracted much attention.

One of the stars of Farnborough 1980 was the all-weather, swing-wig Tornado now being developed jointly by Britain, West Germany and Italy. This powerful strike aircraft will go into service with the air forces of all three countries soon. A total of 809 Tornadoes are planned.

The French contribution to the show was the brand-new Supermirage 4000, making its first appearance outsides France for the occasion. This aircraft is a twin-fan development of the successful Mirage strike planes capable of twice the speed of sound.

One of the British aircraft which always fascinates is the remarkable. Harrier vertical take-off machine. This is the Royal Navy version of the aircraft, specially designed for use on a new family of naval command cruisers. British designers are now working on a supersonic version of this extraordinarily versatile aircraft.

One of the smallest machines at the show was the French Microjet, designed as a low-cost military trainer.