Alabama, Huntsville take off at Farnborough International Airshow
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The "Made in Alabama" booth is neighbors with the Partnership USA booth. Photo: Derek Lacey/Axios
London may be a long way from Huntsville, but at the Farnborough International Airshow this week, it's something of a home away from home.
Why it matters: Farnborough is a big deal for anything that flies and for the companies and communities that support them.
Context: Mike Ward, senior vice president, government and public affairs with the Huntsville Madison County Chamber, has been attending the airshow since 1999.
- Back then Huntsville focused on the International Paris Air Show, which alternates years with Farnborough, and for years the Rocket City hosted a reception at the Eiffel Tower, he told Axios on Monday.
- And while many companies hosted events all about themselves, Huntsville "became like Switzerland," with the leaders of the companies all in one place.
Driving the news: "Mostly it's nurturing relationships," Ward said. "That may sound trite, you know, but it's the truth."
- "We have the highest concentration of engineers in the world," he said of Huntsville. "If you look at the concentration of aerospace companies, it's probably more than any place else ... 84,000 people work in either aerospace or defense in the region."
Zoom in: More than 1,600 exhibitors are displaying their best, including states like Alabama, highlighting companies based in Huntsville and beyond.
Context: Huntsville's connections were on full display Monday, too, as the USA Pavilion cut the ribbon with a talk from Apollo-era astronaut and moonwalker Charles Duke in front of a large wall-sized photo of him at Space Camp.
- They were celebrating the Apollo moon landing anniversary in London, while Huntsville took to Big Spring Park to do the same with a giant drone show as part of Rocket City Space Fest.
The bottom line: "What started off as you know, cheese whiz and a beer at the local bar with some industry friends, grew into the premier community exhibit at the Paris Air Show," Ward said.
Disclosure: Huntsville/Madison County Economic Development Partners paid for Derek's travel and lodging expenses to attend the Farnborough International Airshow, where he is moderating discussions and conducting interviews. Axios retains full editorial control over its coverage.