The gates of the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2017 are already closed, allowing us to summarize the 2017 edition with some key facts, statistics and related news.
The history of the Russian aviation exhibitions started 25 years ago with the ´MosAeroShow´ organized at Zhukovsky in August of 1992. Then, this first Russian ´aerosalon´ organized at the Gromov Institute airfield attracted approximately 300,000 guests who were able to see 114 exhibited aircraft and visit more than 200 stands of Russian and international aviation companies.
After the quarter of the century the Russian aviation exhibition, shortly renamed to ´International Aviation and Space Salon´ (in Russian: Международный авиационно-космический салон – MAKS), evolved from the entertainment to the important marketplace. Nowadays MAKS is not only the professional exhibition of the Russian aerospace industry, but also the business cooperation platform where the contracts are negotiated and signed. The show is also accompanied by several scientific conferences and symposia.
The facts and numbers from the 2017 edition show that MAKS is currently one of the leading aviation exhibitions in the world. During the first three days of the aviation and space industry fair more than 70,000 professionals visited the airfield and the exposition. According to the official press release published shortly after the event, the volume of contracts and letters of intent reached the amount of RUB 394 billion, and the business potential of MAKS-2017 exceeded RUB 600 billion.
More than 700 Russian and 180 international companies were present there, the total area of the exhibition covered 43,480 square metres, with 26,000 square metres in the pavilions. The scientific part of the MAKS 2017 meant more than 150 conferences and seminars, including the second Eurasian Aerospace Congress with 680 delegates.
The aviation part of the exhibition introduced 116 aircraft on the static display and 90 aircraft performing the flying displays. During the business days of the fair the demonstration flights and solo displays prevailed, and the newest aircraft were presented to the guests and journalists – L-410NG, Airbus A350, MiG-35 and others. Starting Friday, the doors opened for the public and the flying displays became more diversified. The spectators could see the presentation of the current Russian airpower, recently restored Il-2 warbird and the displays of 8 aerobatics group (Fursan Al Emarat, Baltic Bees, Jet Team, Russian Knights, the Swifts, the Falcons of Russia, Russ, the First Flight and Chelavia Team).
The static display included the wide presentation of Russian Air Force aircraft – with the most visitor-attracting exhibition of Tu-160, Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, the brand-new constructions from the Russian manufacturer and additionally the section presenting the historical aircraft, among them the amazing Tu-144 and Myasishchev VM-T Atlant aeroplanes.
Several aircraft and other developments had their debut at 2017 International Aviation and Space Show and were shown for the public for the first time. The list of MAKS-2017 premieres included MiG-35 fighter jet, VRT-300 pilotless convertiplane, Mi-171Sh-VN military transport helicopter, CR-10 jet trainer aircraft, heavy unmanned Orion-E aerial vehicle and many others.
The total number of visitors, including the professional and open public days, reached 452,300 people, additionally making the MAKS-2017 a great logistics and security challenge. Fortunately, the organizers rise to that challenge and there were no significant security and transport issues. According to the organizers, the visitors were taken from Moscow to the airfield by additional 82 pairs of the suburban trains (apart the usual schedule) and then 552 buses. More than 2500 officers from the police, National Guard of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Emergency Situations supported by the helicopters, blimp and patrol boats on Moscow river, were the guarantee of the safety – during the fair no emergencies or safety incidents were reported.
And last, but certainly no least, the media coverage of the MAKS-2017 should be mentioned: more than 3,000 journalists, 32 Russian and 23 foreign TV stations, 570 Russian and 197 foreign media outlets were spreading the news from the International Aviation and Space Show around the world.
The next edition of the International Aviation and Space Salon will take place between 27th August and 1st September 2019, at Zhukovsky airport.
