After four years the International Aeronautical Exhibition finally returned to Berlin. Having a working airport (BER that is) next door to the exhibition ground means that the flying displays had to be scaled down massively.

Unfortunately, they cancelled civilian aircraft mostly and I am not that interessted in military planes . That said, it still is reassuring for a German taxpayer to see that at least a few Luftwaffe jets are in working order.

The RAF treated the crowd to a stunning display in which a CH 47 Chinook helicopter did a Touch-and-Go on the runway – something I have never seen before.

There also was plenty to see on the exhibtion tents, however quite a few exhibitors seemed to be disinteressted in the general public days and left their booths closed or unattended.

Checking out Emirates‘ massive A380 and the new Premium Economy cabin was definitely a highlight!

Another highlight was, as always, the audience: brown leather vests, short sleeve shirts in all varieties of check, female spotters in pink fan shirts, proud dads lecturing their kids, grand/godparents commandeered to take kids to the show because the intermediate generation doesn‘t support such an event on principle (or they needed a half day off) and of course the freshly fallen in love girlfriend tagging along to show interest in ‚his stuff‘ (getting bored 45 MINs after the doors opened.