The 10th anniversary airshow MAKS-2011 has opened today at the territory of Gromov Flight Research Institute in Zhukovsky. AEX.ru

The airshow will be taking place from August 16th to August 21st and it will be opened only for industry’s specialists, journalists and high-ranking guests from August 16th to August 19th, while on 20th and 21st it will welcome all the visitors. More than 840 companies from 40 countries will take place in the show this year. As a comparison, 735 companies from 34 countries have been presented at the last airshow. The Russian and foreign companies have announced 241 aircraft for taking part in static display and 91 aircraft will also take part in demonstration flights.

The president of UAC, Mikhail Pogosyan, said during opening ceremony that contracts on delivery of about 100 civil aircraft will be signed during MAKS-2011 (including SSJ-100).

The main sensations of MAKS-2011 are the largest passenger jet Airbus А380 and the newest passenger aircraft Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Among other novelties are Аn-158 and Тu-204SМ. The fifth-generation Russian PAK FA fighter will take place in the show for the first time along with several helicopters.

Among other exhibits are Russian multi-role fighters: Su-35, MiG-35, Su-30 MK2 and passenger aircraft: Аn-148, Аn-140 and Sukhoi SuperJet-100.

Russian air forces will present a full range of jets and helicopters at the static display: Тu-160, А-50, Тu-95, Su-27 SМ, MiG-29SМТ, Su-24М, Su-25SМ, Su-34, MiG-31B, Yak-130, Ка-52, Мi-26, Мi-8 МТV-5, Мi-28. The Russian Helicopters will demonstrate a wide product line of civil and military helicopters. The following theme flight demonstrations are planned: «Search and rescue» with the participation of Ка-226Т and Ми-34S1 helicopter; «Antiterror» with the participation of Ка-52, Мi-28NE and Мi-8.

The air defense systems and space vehicles will be traditionally presented at the show.

Specially for MAKS, the reconstruction of a Soviet field airdrome of air defense from the times of the battle near Moscow during the Great Patriotic War has been reproduced including demonstration flights of the aircraft which have been taking part in defense of Moscow from Hitler’s attack. The program includes solo and group flights accompanied by the actions of a group of reconstructors at the airfield and announcer’s comments. The flights of 10 aircraft of the war period will be demonstrated for the first time. The following aircraft have been prepared for the demonstration: I-15bis, I-153, I-16, DIT, Sh-2, 3 Po-2, 2 MiG-3 fighters and two Т-60 tanks, GAZ-AA cars, air defense guns with manning details and working mobile kitchen trailer.

French air forces will demonstrate the flights of Rafael fighters and the Italian air forces – C-27 transport aircraft.

The aircraft of USAF will take part in the show this year after a 4-year interval. The C-5A Galaxy will be presented at the static display for the first time along with А-10 strike fighters and Р-3 reconnaissance aircraft. The visitors will also see the traditional participants of MAKS - КС-135, F-16, F-15 fighters and В-52 bomber.

In addition, the visitors of MAKS will see the demonstration flights of four Russian aerobatic teams: «Russian Knights», «Strizhi», «Sokoli Rossiyi» and «Rus’», and the flights of the best Russian test pilots on state-of-the-art fighters and civil aircraft. The Baltic Bees aerobatic team will also take part in the program; it is the only private civil aerobatic team of Baltic countries.

A wide business program is the essential part of MAKS-2011. The organizers of the show provide platform for participants’ professional dialogue, signing of contracts, acquaintance with the latest achievements in the area of development, production, sales, operation and maintenance of aircraft. The events of business program are intended for a wide range of specialists and officials: international congresses, scientific and practical conferences, forums, seminars and roundtable discussions with the participation of state authorities, European regulatory organizations, heads of ministries and departments, the leading enterprises of Russian and foreign aerospace industry.

It is expected to sign contracts with the total amount of more than $10 billion during MAKS. The total number of visitors is estimated at 600 thousand. More than 4000 policemen will provide the show’s security.