The Paris Air Show: without any defence flying hardware from the traditional antagonists--Russia and the United States--this year's air display looked a bit thin on the ground (pun fully intended). While the usually aircraft-crowded static display could have hosted two football matches, there was, however, a lot going on elsewhere, particularly in the field of drones.

Summary

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Shows & Exhibitions

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The Paris Air Show: without any defence flying hardware from the traditional antagonists--Russia and the United States--this year's air display looked a bit thin on the ground (pun fully intended). While the usually aircraft-crowded static display could have hosted two football matches, there was, however, a lot going on elsewhere, particularly in the field of drones.

The Russians were again threatened to see their aircraft being 'impounded' by the French authorities, following a multi-million dollar financial dispute between Russia and a Swiss businessman, and thus decided not to show up with their Sukhois and MiGs (these just managed to flee Le Bourget two years ago for the same reasons).

The Americans, in retaliation for France's disagreements over the latest military intervention in Iraq, decided to hold back both top rank executives and aircraft.

All this is tremendously sad of course, but in private conversations, oddly enough, the hardest comments against the American's stance did not come from the F...

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