Construction work has started in Hampshire on the huge structure required for the 2008 Farnborough International Airshow, taking place from 14-20 July. Being erected by De Boer Structures, this will be the biggest temporary venue ever built for the event, consisting of 92,000 square metres of floorspace.

The 2008 airshow marks the 60th anniversary of the event. Organiser Farnborough International will be looking to further build on the success of 2006, when the total number of visitors rose to 270,000 and a total of $42 billion in sales were announced during the seven days of the show.

The 2008 temporary venue will consist of four huge exhibition halls, the largest of which will measure more than 19,000 square metres, plus the special Centennial Pavilion.

De Boer will also provide the biennial event with more than a kilometre of hospitality chalets, together with other accommodation, including a media centre, business suites, marketing facilities and public dining areas. What’s more, Boeing and Bombardier have commissioned De Boer to provide a brace of its innovative, glass-sided Panorama structures, while the company will also erect a stunning new double-decker venue for Italian industrial group Finmeccanica.

“This year’s assignment will not only be the biggest-ever airshow challenge for De Boer, but will be the largest-ever contract tackled by the group anywhere in Europe,” said Tom Osborne, sales manager for the event structure specialist. “Over the coming weeks, we will be transporting more than 200 articulated lorry loads of equipment to the airfield. We will then have until late June to complete the build, allowing time for an estimated 6,000 contractors to fit out our structures in time for the show’s launch.”