Article - F-Air 2019 Colombia - July 2019

F-Air 2019 Colombia - July 2019

Bi-annually José María Córdova Airport, located in Rionegro, Antioquia becomes the location for the Fair Air Colombia (Feria Aeronautica Internacional) air show, for the meeting of entrepreneurs from the civil and military sector, aircraft manufacturers, producers of avionics systems, service generators, industry experts, media, aviation photographers and the general public.

On this occasion the Colombian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Colombiana – FAC) celebrates 100 years of service to the country and the best way to celebrate it is within the F-AIR Colombia 2019, showing its distinguished work defending the sovereignty of our territory from the heights, with a display of aircraft on the ground and a show of capabilities.

Director of the F-Air

"As hosts of one of the most important aeronautical fairs in Latin America, it is very important to have a strategic ally with a history in the industry as guest country; The United States is a leading nation worldwide in the advancement of science and technology that will bring to our country knowledge, development and experience. F-AIR is an excellent opportunity to generate new commercial and business links in the national and international scope and a space for entertainment and industry knowledge for all attendees at the fair"

"As every two years, F-AIR Colombia will have the best of the industry's value chain gathered in one place. Aircraft maintenance companies, training platforms and aeronautical virtual courses, operations engineering, satellite communication systems and cutting-edge technology guarantee that the air operation in the country is carried out under optimal security conditions. Likewise, we will have on display more than 100 civil and military aircraft's to our largest public composed by the professional visitor and the general public that has a meeting point at the fair"

The F-Air Colombia 2019 had more than 100 aircraft on display on the ground and in the air, about 200 exhibitors from Germany, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Korea, Colombia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, United States, France, Guatemala, Honduras and 12 official delegations from Mexico, Israel, Holland, Panama, Peru, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom, the Dominican Republic, Salvador, Uruguay and Venezuela and the latest advances and developments in air navigation, investment and advances in aeronautical infrastructure and aerospace is developing in the country.

To celebrate the 9th edition of the F-Air and the 100 years of the "FAC" the main guest for the show was the United States Air Force (USAF) Thunderbirds display team, who performed daily for the crowds. Also performing daily were a pair of Kfirs belonging to the "FAC" both teams performing spirited displays. To close the weekday trade show was the Arpía display team, the “Equipo Acrobático Arpía 51” with a pair of Sikorsky UH-60L "Blackhawks" that danced around the sky together in formation and launched flares out the sides to form the shape of an angel in the sky. On the ground the show featured the Navy, Army, "FAC" and large presence from the Policia Nacional Colombia (PNC) along with many aircraft from the civil sector. A large and very varied static display enough to keep any enthusiast happy.

The 9th edition of the trade F-Air proved to be another great success with attending numbers up on 2017 from 59,000 to a little over 62,000 visitors, numbers are sure to rise as the Feria Aeronautica Internacional grows bi-annually.

Author: Duncan Campbell

Photography: Mark Forest and Duncan Campbell