The history of air shows in Russia dates back to 1911, when the country’s first air show was held at Manezhnaya Square in Saint Petersburg. Over two decades later, annual air shows began to be held at Tushino airfield in Moscow to celebrate the Soviet Air Fleet Day. The first air show in Zhukovsky was organized by the Central Aerodynamic Institute in 1990. It took place in front of the Engineering Department.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, many aviation companies moved to the town of Zhukovsky, which is home to the Gromov Flight Research Institute. The first MAKS Air Show was held by the Institute from August 31 to September 5, 1993. MAKS is an abbreviation for “International Aviation and Space Show” in Russian. The show has been held biennially ever since, taking place on odd years.
The International Aviation and Space Show is held at Zhukovsky International Airport, also known as Zhukovsky Airfield or Ramenskoye Airport. It is located 40 km southeast of central Moscow. The show is organized by Aviasalon JSC. The MAKS Air Show lasts for six days, the first three are industry days and during the last three days the show is open to the general public, attracting about 400,000 attendees every year.
Although the MAKS Air Show started as an entertainment event, it soon became a major business platform where Russian air carriers could make foreign contacts and Russian airspace companies could negotiate export contracts. The program of the show includes scientific conferences and round tables featuring scientists, experts and decision-makers in the aviation industry, business talks, a showcase of the achievements of the Russian and international aerospace industry, and aircraft demonstrations by aerobatic teams from Russia and abroad.
