AERO 2025 – The Leading Show for General Aviation

With 100 new exhibitors, this year also saw a new record number of participants who wanted to showcase their aviation products to the passionate people of AERO Friedrichshafen. Over 32000 visitors (still increasing compared to the previous years) coming from 80 countries around the world who since the first day occupied the stands of the 760 exhibitors coming from 38 countries who brought 328 aircraft (in 2024 there were 270 aircraft) as well as products and everything necessary for the world of general and business aviation.

There will be many new features and aircraft presented at Aero 2025, in particular the expansion of the space dedicated to Business Aviation (BA), 2 entire dedicated pavilions (A2 and A3), many more BA exhibitors and also the novelty of the new “Dome Business” a huge dedicated transparent hangar/pavilion of 2000sqm built next to the external static display. In new «Business Dome», visitors will also find a Speaker Stage with a 40 m² LED wall, expert talks on current business aviation topics such as sustainability, innovation and the shortage of skilled workers will complement the exhibition. Inside the Dome VIP networking lounges and a hospitality area enable exclusive business meetings and confidential business discussions.

Stefan Reisinger, CEO of organizer Fairnamic GmbH, says: “AERO 2025 was a precision landing. We have been able to expand our expertise and relevance. The new trade fair concept with the Business Aviation Show Hub has been a stunning success.” Among the novelties also an airshow dedicated to electric aviation on Thursday, in addition to the Airshow of Saturday is the day dedicated to families. New spaces, but also new aircraft, new products and technologies and as mentioned new exhibitors, the growth project that AERO is undertaking with the clear intention of becoming much bigger and consequently a much more anticipated event in the global aeronautical environment.

A growth that sees AERO now as a global brand, in fact AERO South Africa will take place at Lanseria International Airport in South Africa 25th until 27th June 2025, followed by AERO Asia in Zhuhai in the Greater Bay Area in China in November from 6th until 9th November 2025. AERO 2025 is the European exhibition of innovation, technology, a place where the public can learn about the future of global aviation. Hydrogen fuel cell drives, electric drives, and hybrid-electric drives: innovative start-ups, research institutions, universities and established manufacturers showcased their projects and programs over the four days of the trade fair, which will make aviation even safer and more sustainable.

. General Aviation is invaluable as an incubator for new and innovative aviation technologies. Conferences, lectures and expert presentations from the many stages of the various pavilions educated, informed and updated the attendees on all the main sectors of the aviation industry and the various environments surrounding flight. With the Media Day on April 8, 2025, AERO Friedrichshafen left the honour of the opening to 5 women engaged in various fields of the world of global aviation: - Cate Brancart, Director, European Safety & Sustainability Development of industry association GAMA (General Aviation Manufacturers Association);

- Susan Ying, co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer at ANG Fei (China) and Board Member of Norwegian electric aircraft manufacturer El-Fly; - Lindsay Allmon, Vice President of Marketing at Blackhawk Aerospace Group from Waco, Texas; - Melanie Astles, International aerobatic pilot and Air Racing Pioneer, Motivational Speaker, CEO at AirMel, Ambassador of Pima Air & Space Museum (USA); - Kathrin Kaiser, private pilot and organizer of the annual international Grumman Fly-in

After a brief introduction by Fairnamic CEO Stefan Reisinger and AERO Show Director Tobias Bretzel who presented the novelties of AERO 2025 to the World Press present, the floor was given to the 5 speakers moderated by Cate Brancart, with the (external) supervision of Volker K. Thomalla, Head of Communication Aerospace Portfolio, and Frank Gauss, Head of Communications & Press Spokesman of the German exhibition. Melanie Astles described how important not only technological expertise but also a passion for aviation is for achieving technological progress.

Kathrin Kaiser, represents exactly the passion. She flew her single-engine Grumman Tiger airplane across the Atlantic twice in one year to take part in the world's largest aviation gathering, the EAA AirVenture. She has summarized her experiences in a book to inspire young people. With this valuable presentation, an interesting tour reserved for the specialized press revealed in advance what the more than 32,000 visitors who attended saw in the following days. In the following days, in fact, the large public who came since the first day saw first-hand what AERO 2025 had to offer, being able to see up close the numerous aircraft and the various stands in the large pavilions of Friedrichshafen.

Various world premieres and technological innovations, but also evolutions of aircraft already in use and also many experiences to try with flight simulators from the simplest to the most complex, both for pure entertainment and for training new pilots. Also interesting are the pavilions dedicated to glider flight and sustainable flight, AERO has always been sensitive to the reduction of CO2 and the impact of flight on the environment. Many companies are present that are developing technologies and solutions to fly sustainably and significantly reduce the impact on nature.

Many technologies for electric or fuel cell powered aircraft, with even a small airshow on Thursday of only electric powered aircraft. On Saturday for the second airshow the famous Red Bull Blanix Aerobatic Team was "towed" into flight to perform their famous acrobatics, by 2 electric aircraft. The airshow on Saturday is now an eagerly awaited moment of the whole event, next to Team Blanix this year we saw the acrobatics of famous Franco-British pilot Melanie Astles with her EXTRA 330SC first woman to participate in the RED Bull Air Race and six-time French champion in five different classes, Team Niebergall of Ralf and Nico Niebergall, father and son with their two splendid SIAI Marchetti SF260, Dariuz Stachurski with his Grob G120 TP.

But the exhibition has a lot to show and in the various pavilions you can find everything that is general and business aviation, but also the most technological drones designed to perform the most varied tasks. From police assistance services, to drones designed for medical support or firefighters, drones for private use, for measurements or control. A wide range of uses for these new technological means that we have been able to see in many configurations and in variable sizes, from the smallest that can fit in the palm of your hand to those that need to be transported with a special vehicle.

The Heli-Hangar in Hall B5 has become a popular meeting place for the rotorcraft industry. With 30 helicopters, more helicopters were on display in Friedrichshafen than ever before at an AERO, including the H160 from Airbus Helicopters, the Bell 505 and Bell 407GXi, Robinson R44 and R66 and Guimbal Cabri G2. Among the various world, European or even just AERO 2025 presentations we have the SFX1 from the Swiss start-up Smartflyer Ltd; Blackshape presented its Prime Xplorer for the first time, while Konner Helicopters unveiled the new Konner K3 on 10th April, the only tandem ultralight helicopter in the world.

Another important world premiere at AERO 2025: the new Pilatus PC-12 PRO, one of the most advanced single-engine turboprop aircraft of all time, according to Swiss manufacturer. At the heart of new PC-12 PRO is the Pilatus Advanced Cockpit Environment ACE, based on the Garmin G3000 Prime. Naturally, most admired and visited pavilions are those that have hosted the big names in general and business aviation, Pilatus, Junkers, Cirrus HondaJet but also RTX with Pratt&Whitney PT6 engines, Rotax, JMB Aircraft, Tecnam alongside Bombardier, Dassault, Airbus, Boeing, Garmin and Piper. Names, companies, that attract enthusiasts and professionals from all over the world to discover the news and the path that is being taken for future of GA and BA.

For this reason, in recent years at AERO Friedrichshafen we have also had a space dedicated to work and opportunities for young people and for anyone interested in entering the aeronautical world: the AERO Career Days. At the AERO Career Days job fair on April 11th and 12th, 2025, more than 30 companies presented their training occupations and job offers. With the Career Days, AERO is making a contribution to reducing the shortage of skilled workers in aviation.

Innovative concepts, expansion of the exhibition, innovation that exhibitors brought to the Fair Halls, a triumphal march into the future for the leading event for General Aviation and Business Aviation. AERO 2025 was the best aviation event of this early 2025 with the prospect of becoming even more of a leader in the years to come with the new path undertaken by the organization. The date for AERO 2026 in Friedrichshafen has already been set: The 32nd AERO in Friedrichshafen will open its doors from April 22 to 25, 2026 and we will be there again. - From Friedrichshafen (D): Daniele Maiolo - www.bestshotaircraft.com