#FARNBOROUGH2012, or The Year of the Many Unnecessary Hashtags

Farnborough International Airshow 2012 (or, if you're on Twitter, #FARN12, #FIA12 or one of the umpteen other Hashtags employed) has been and gone, and as usual debate and intrigue prevail afterwards. But what were the main stories to come of it? Well, in brief, 2012 was the year that:

• Boeing brought the 787 back to the display line, in Qatar colours 

• David Cameron opened the show by expressing confidence in the UK aerospace sector, but advised that "...there can be no complacency". This was reinforced by the Science Minister David Willetts recognising that there is a generation of engineers, thinkers and other workers, who brought us the technology we see today, who will soon be retiring.

• The A350-1000 bounced back after a significant reworking, with orders from Cathay Pacific effectively making them the new launch customer.

• Steven Udvar-Hazy changed his mind rather quickly. Months after saying the Boeing 737MAX wasn't a "long term solution" he's now placed an order for 75 for his company Air Lease Corp, which I'm fairly sure is all about long term solutions.

• Airbus showed off their newest airborne animal, the A320 with 'sharklets'. Looks pretty cool I reckon.

• Richard Branson had his own space. Geddit?