Bristol-based exhibition and event management specialist Ignition has helped Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus showcase its latest business jet – by installing a full-scale mock-up of it at the Australian International Airshow.
Ignition, based at The Paintworks creative quarter, landed a star slot for the 17-metre long Super Versatile PC-24 on the largest exhibition stand at the show – creating a huge impact.
Visitors to the 400 sq m Pilatus stand, including the Australian defence minister Kevin Andrews, could get an up-close view the world’s first business jet designed for use on short, unprepared runways.
Ignition, which also has a base in the US, won the contract last October after approaching Pilatus.
Planning began straight away with the Ignition team travelling to Pilatus’ headquarters at Stans, Switzerland, to confirm key requirements and responsibilities and agree project milestones.
Ignition was responsible for managing and liaising with the event organisers and freight forwarders to ensure a smooth installation. The project involved a 10-day build prior to the six-day show followed by a three-day dismantle.
Ignition staff were on site throughout the whole installation to manage and oversee all aspects of the project.
The finished stand, which focused on the mock-up featured against a prominent backdrop of the Pilatus logo, dominated the exhibition hall and attracted scores of visitors.
Ignition managing director Samantha Rowe said: “We were enormously excited to rise to the challenge of promoting this innovative new jet at one of the world’s great airshows for such a prestigious client.
“We secured the contract on the basis of our global capacity and our creative proposals for the Pilatus stand which we purposely kept clean and simple so that the main focus was on the PC-24, allowing the aircraft to speak for itself.
“It was quite a feat getting such a huge mock-up into place inside the exhibition hall but well worth the effort. Visitors were simply amazed at how the aircraft had landed there and it made an enormous impact at the show.”
Ignition works with a range of firms from global pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly to Bristol drinks developer Beyond the Bean and Yate-based cycling products distributor Saddleback.
Pictured: The Pilatus PC-24 mock-up at the Australian International Airshow
