Succes of the Festa al Cel 2008

Published September 28, 2008

BARCELONA AIRSHOW  More than 350.000 people came to the Forum and Barcelona beaches to enjoy the Barcelona Air Show Festa al Cel.
Organized by the City Council of Barcelona, the Aeroclub Barcelona-Sabadell and B:SM, with the technical direction of AENA and the cooperation of the Spanish Air Force, Festa al Cel is the biggest airshow in Spain, both in number of aircraft participants and in number of attendees: more than 350.000 attendees each edition – . It is also the oldest airshow in Spain being the current one the 17th edition of this classic exhibition.

In the current edition, taking place during the weekend of 27 and 26 of September 2008, in the Forum Area, new contributions and collateral events were prepared:

100 years of the First Association promoting Aeronautics in Spain

A century ago, an association from Barcelona was the first in promoting aviation in Spain: the "Asociación de Locomoción Aérea", born on December, 1908 in Barcelona. Its purpose was to promote aeronautical culture, which was beginning to root in the neighbouring France. The Association also edited a magazine echoing the endeavours accomplished by the first aviators all over the world. Although there is still controversy on the subject of the first flight over Spanish territory, the Association succeeded also in bringing the visit of the French pilot Lucien Mamet with his Blériot XI to Barcelona in February 1910, which is clearly the best documented one and thus, it is claimed to be the first flight of an aircraft over Spanish territory: Taking off from the old Can Tunis horse track, the French pilot marvelled the crowd of Barcelona residents that had gone to see this incredible invention; the event had risen scepticism and debate through the precedent weeks on whether such a heavy machine could be capable of leaving the ground. This year, the Festa al Cel remembers the valorous work done by this association, claiming the passion for aeronautics in Catalonia.

Next generation of aircrafts: Very Light Jets

The Festa al Cel has been the first airshow in Europe to count on the last generation in compact commercial jets, the Very Light Jets (VLJs). The Eclipse 500 from TaxiJet, a Sabadell-based company, will be visiting Barcelona skies next Sunday. This VLJ is a twin jet turbine intended for two pilots and four passengers. It aims at answering the demand in corporate aviation seats, having a ticket prize  below larger corporate jets and only slightly superior to conventional "Business class" seats being offered by the main commercial airlines. The Eclipse 500 is exceptionally silent and can fly at over 12.000 m high and travel up to 2.000 Km at a cruise speed of 685 Km/h.

Ground Area

Besides the show in the skies, a ground exhibition area to approach aeronautics to the public attending were also being scheduled: aerostatic balloons; static aircrafts; and exhibitions from aeronautical entities.


For all information related to this big event in the city of Barcelona, please visit:
Official Organization website: Festa al Cel
Pictures taken by the spotters attending the Air Show
Video available on-line from the electronic version of the Spanish journal El Periódico


The French pilot Lucien Mamet visits Barcelona (Can Tunis) in February 1910 in his Blériot XI, thanks to the efforts of the "Asociación de Locomoción Aérea". It is considered to be the first flight of an aircraft over the Spanish territory.

Canadair UD-13 with the Santa Eulalia packet boat from where magnificient pictures of the air show were taken by the spotters invited on-board