Farnborough Airshow has taken the decision to permanently cancel its public weekend.

Thousands of visitors attended the bi-annual show last year, over the weekend of July 21 and 22, but many left disappointed with the cost of tickets, food and drink, and the flying displays.

The Facebook page was bombarded with negative comments following the public weekend, with the hugely popular Red Arrows only performing a brief flypast at the show.

One person said: "I have attended the Airshow most years since I was a child. 2018 will be my last year. What an absolutely atrocious event."

The week-long event will now be reduced to five days, ending on the Friday, with a greater focus on “engaging young people”, a statement says. Farnborough International added that there would still be an air display as normal on each day during the week to showcase the latest commercial and military aircraft, but the multiple displays over the weekend would no longer take place.

Last year’s show featured a flypasts from the Red Arrows, as well as the latest fighter jet, helicopter gunship and parachute displays.

Surrey Live has put together a timeline of events from the 2018 airshow that has been subject of wide criticism.

Time Line

Farnborough Airshow 2018

  1. June 14, 2018 - Farnborough Airshow to host only Red Bull Air Race of the year

    Just a month before the event, it was announced that Farnborough Airshow would host the only Red Bull Air Race of the year.

    Red Bull Air Race is brought a team of two pilots flying Edge 540 raceplanes to demonstrate to the audience the very best of the new dimension of motorsport.

    The pair reached speeds of 370km/h while enduring forces of up to 12G as they navigate a low-level racetrack, marked by 25-meter-high, air filled pylons.

  2. June 18, 2018 - Watch as Farnborough Airshow performer flies through the air in 'Iron Man' jetpack

    Richard Browning, the "real life Iron Man", demonstrated his flying suit in front of the cameras after announcing he would appear at the airshow.

    He essentially uses a miniature Harrier aircraft as a jetpack to fly through the air.

    The £250,000 suit has more horsepower than a Formula 1 car and can achieve full vertical thrust and airborne control with the small jet engines mounted on each arm and behind the back.

    You can watch the video here.

  3. July 16, 2018 - Rolls-Royce to unveil 'flying taxi' at Farnborough International Airshow

    Rolls-Royce announced plans to build a "flying taxi" that would be unveiled at Farnborough Airshow.

    The concept aircraft is a hybrid vehicle that could transport five passengers at speeds of up to 250mph for up to 500 miles without being recharged, the company said.

    It was described as as an "electric vertical take-off and landing" vehicle, with its wings able to rotate 90 degrees to enable it to take off or land like a helicopter.

  4. Watch the Red Arrows at Farnborough Airshow - full flying display schedule announced

    The first day of the public weekend, Saturday (July 21) got under way with a Red Arrows flypast and a range of large aircrafts on display.

    However, many were left disappointed with the world famous flying squadron's display.

    The real life "Iron Man" showed the crowds his jet pack to kick-off proceedings at noon before a Red Bull Air Race demo took place.

  5. July 26, 2018 - Farnborough Airshow responds to critics following string of negative comments about this year's event

    As mentioned, many visitors to the airshow were disappointed with the event.

    The cost of tickets, food and drink, as well as the displays were the main reasons cited as hundreds took to social media to voice their discontent.

    The Red Arrows were picked out specifically for their brief flypast performance with many respondents claiming the show was the worst one they had ever attended.

    Negative reaction to the event was a large contributor behind the decision to close the public weekend.

  6. July 26, 2018 - Here's why the Red Arrows will never perform an aerobatic display at Farnborough Airshow again

    Many visitors were left wondering why the Red Arrows did not display their traditional tricks and stunts at the airshow.

    They flew past three times in different formations, expelling their trademark red, white and blue smoke before landing on the runway.

    However, the red jets did not perform any aerobatic stunts for the expectant crowd this year and never will again, because they could not.

    Due to the high speed and dynamic nature of the Royal Air Force Aerobatics Team display, and the significant encroachment of civilian infrastructure on the extended display area, the RAF has decided it is no longer possible for the Red Arrows to display at Farnborough.

  7. July 30, 2018 - 117 parking fines issued to drivers during Farnborough Airshow

    If visitors were not disappointed enough, 117 parking fines were issued during the week of the airshow.

    The total revenue accrued by Rushmoor Borough Council could have been anywhere between roughly £4,000 and £8,000 depending on when the fines are paid and how many of them are subject to appeal.

    The fines were all issued in and around the roads in North Camp, close to the Farnborough Airshow site.

  8. August 13, 2018 - Farnborough Airshow generates almost $200 billion in aircraft deals

    Final figures showed that $192 billion was spent during the week of the airshow.

    The figure was a rise of $67.5bn compared to 2016 show as people from more than 100 countries attended, with a record Chinese presence.

    Around 1,400 commercial aircraft were ordered at the show with a value of around $150bn with a similar amount of engines ordered at a cost of more than $20bn.

    There was also a rise in trade visitors of nearly 10% compared previous years and more than 80,000 members of the public.

  9. August 2, 2018 - A closer look at why the Red Arrows DID NOT perform aerobatics at Farnborough Airshow

    The RAF outfit gave greater detail as to why they did not perform any stunts at the show.

    There is an obvious risk involved with performing aerial stunts in built up areas, most recently highlighted by the Shoreham air disaster in which 11 people tragically lost their lives and 16 others were injured.

    A spokesman for the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team said: "The high speed and dynamic nature of the traditional Red Arrow’s display is no longer appropriate for Farnborough due to the large amounts of local housing, business areas and major transport links underneath the planned display area.

  10. August 30, 2018 - Farnborough Airshow organisers apologise for failing to recover plastic signs 'left lying around'

    Organisers of the event had to apologise for failing to recover all of the plastic signs that were put up during the airshow.

    The deserted signage was brought to the attention of the organisers by Fleet resident Simon Brown, who found and photographed several signs around Farnborough.

    Farnborough International (FI) says that it has gone to great lengths to remove the signs with Mr Brown’s assistance and has managed to locate signs that were not in their original locations or have been vandalised.