When the organization of the Paris Air Show released last week the aircraft confirmed at the event, however, Boeing was the only manufacturer that did not reveal its attractions in Le Bourget.
However, on Monday, the US company confirmed the presence of the KC-46 for the first time on international air show. The aerial refueling jet, however, will only be on static display, as will a 737 converted to cargo.
The only Boeing aircraft to have in-flight demonstrations will be a 787-9 in the colors of Air Tahiti Nui and was already on the list of the Paris Air Show.
The air show in France comes at a time when the US planemaker goes through a delicate period in an attempt to remedy the 737 MAX’s problems after two fatal crashes.
The manufacturer is about to make the inaugural flight of the 777X, its biggest launch in recent years, but the long-range twin engine has struggled with the new GE9X turbofan engines. Anyway, with the delays in the program it would be impossible to count the 777X in Paris.
On the military front, Boeing could have chosen the advanced T-X trainer, built in partnership with Saab and recently selected by the US Air Force, but the two prototypes will remain in testing in the country.
European stage
With no major highlights from its competitor, Airbus will take advantage of the event to showcase its major commercial jets, including the A330neo, A350-1000, A321LR and A220, for the first time after it is no longer called the C Series. Even the A380 will be present, despite the announcement of the end of its production.
The defense division of the European giant will also show the military version A330MRTT and several drones.
Mitsubishi Aircraft will bring the MRJ90 to Paris while Bombardier will show the CRJ900, a model that may have its sale announced to the Japanese manufacturer at the event.
Embraer, which is finalizing the sale of its commercial aircraft division to Boeing, will carry the E195-E2, the largest jet of the family and will have the first delivery in the second half to the airline Azul.
Another confirmed presence is the first production KC-390. The military freighter will also be delivered to the Brazilian Air Force weeks after the Paris Air Show.
Russian and Chinese absences
Attractions from previous editions of the Paris Air Show, Russian aircraft will be a felt absence in 2019. Only the Beriev amphibious Be-200 appears confirmed for the event, as well as Kazan’s Ansat helicopter.
UAC, the holding company that controls the main Russian manufacturers, could take Paris with the A320 and 737 competitor MC-21-300, or the Russian Air Force star, the Su-57 stealth fighter, but the company decided not to participate in the show on a large scale.
Another country that could brighten the air show would be China where today there are several projects in development such as Comac C919, also a single runner jet. However, with a long development ahead, the manufacturer seems little interested in presenting its new commercial aircraft.
Check out the list with the main airplanes confirmed for the Paris Air Show 2019:
- Airbus A220
- Airbus A321LR (Mardi)
- Airbus A350-1000
- Airbus A380
- Airbus A330neo
- Airbus A330MRTT
- Airbus C295
- Airbus Eurofighter
- ATR ATR-72-600
- Bell 505
- Bell 429
- Beriev Be200
- Boeing 787-9 (Air Tahiti Nui)
- Boeing KC-46
- Boeing 737 cargo
- Bombardier CRJ900
- Dassault Falcon 8X
- Dassault Falcon 900 LX
- Dassault Falcon 2000S
- Dassault Rafale
- Embraer E195-E2
- Embraer KC-390
- Embraer Praetor 600
- Gulfstream G-280
- Gulfstream G-600
- Gulfstream G-650
- Gulfstream G-550
- Honda HondaJet Elite
- Leonardo AW139
- Leonardo M345
- Leonardo M346
- Lockheed Martin LM100J
- Mitsubishi MRJ90
- NHI NH90
- Pilatus PC-12 NG
- Pilatus PC-21
- Pilatus PC-24
- Kazan Ansat
- Cessna Grand Caravan
- Cessna Citation Latitude
- Beech 350ER King Air
- Beech AT-6 Wolverine
- TAI Atak T 129
- Viking Air DH-6-400
- Viking Air Q400
