On a reduced scale the structural techniques employed in London's controversial Millennium Dome at Greenwich have been adapted for a number of silver mini-domes in the BAe Partnership Village, at the western end of the show site, which is thought to be the biggest single corporate exhibition yet to be staged in Europe.

The partnership village occupies more than 11,000 square meters of the airfield. It is designed to stress BAe's commitment to partnership with other leading firms in all aspects of aerospace, military and civil, and in space. More than 50 of BAe's major high-tech projects are with international partners, while almost 90% of its sales revenue comes from exports to 72 countries worldwide.

"In overseas sales BAe is the No. 1 aerospace company," claims the corporation VP for exhibitions and promotions, Robert Gardner. "We are also the world leaders in terms of collaboration and partnerships across the aerospace spectrum."

Hence, at what it regards as its "home" air show, BAe felt it should be seen to create something commensurate with its standing in the world in terms of excellence.

The partnership village is something of a show within a show, as it includes separate pavilions and displays of partners such as Airbus Industrie, Eurofighter, Matra BAe Dynamics and Saab.

Nearly 600 tons of concrete, 190 tons of steel and 11 tons of glass have been used in its construction, together with some 6,000 square meters high-tensile silvered fabric to cover the domes.

The Millennium Dome consultant structural engineers Buro Happold oversaw its erection to the highest standards. Architect Michael-Anthony Ward said he wanted something with the right image that would send a message that BAe was at the forefront of technological development and a world player.

Reaching for the aerospace buzzword glossary he added, "What we have produced is a structure that it aerodynamically designed using leading-edge materials and technology."

By Bob Rodwell