source: Fly Mag
SCANDINAVIAN AVIATION MAGAZINE
TEXT & PHOTOS – MIRCO BONATO & STEFANO POLATO
Iran Airshow 2018, Kish Island
Also known as Persian Gulf Airshow, the Iran Airshow is an aeronautical exhibition and air show that takes place every two years on the island of Kish, in Iran and it is the most important event in the field of aviation in the country. The airshow first dates back to 2002 when 11 foreign companies participated, including France, Russia, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Slovakia, Holland, Italy and Pakistan.
The second edition was held in 2005 when some hundred Iranian and foreign companies made the air show five times greater than in 2002. Thanks to this remarkable success and also thanks to the repeal of the American sanctions precisely during the exhibition of 2005, it was decided to arrange another one in the following year.
From 2006 onwards, the exhibition has taken place every two years, but the subsequent developments in the international field and the new American sanctions have drastically reduced international participation.
Also this year, it takes place under international pressure and unilateral sanctions, but it aims to strengthen the interaction among the organizations involved in the field of Iranian aviation and showcase the capacity of the nation in this region. With these premises, a large number of national companies (105), as well as some foreign companies (10), have taken part in the 9th Iran Kish Airshow.
They are active in the field of aeronautics, aerospace, air transportation and other related sectors, and together with academics show a wide range of products, systems and services for the civil and military sectors. Iran is actively concerned not only with the supply of aeroplanes and helicopters but also with the import of technologies for the construction of aircraft.