And this applies to India as well. Last year, Indian corporates placed orders for nearly 200 private jets for both official and personal use.

Farnborough Air Show organisers said companies like Cessna and Bell had set up their own display compounds and pavilions with more space and so more aircraft this year. On display at the far west of static aircraft park line was an Embraer Legacy 600 with a Gulfstream 550 nearby, and a Sikorsky S-92 helicopter complete with a VIP interior.

Embraer accumulated more than 100 letters of intent for its new Legacy 450/500 medium-light and mid-size jets even though they will not hit the market before 2012-13, said Antonini Puppin Macedo, product strategy manager for executive jets. They add to a backlog of over 750 aircraft for the Phenom 100/300 very light jets and light jets.

The Brazilian company expects to turn out 10 to 15 Phenoms this year and 120 to 150 next year. But, its competitor Bombardier (of Canada) says it holds more than 110 letters of intent for its all-composite Learjet 85.

BUSINESS-JETS 2LST Next in line was Dassault which showed its wingleted Falcon 2000LX and ultra long-range Falcon 7X. Moving along towards show centre, one could see the Grob G180SP -- an all-composite business jet which is expected to get certification by this year-end.

A Socata TBM 850 turboprop business aircraft represents an alternative to the very light jets which are now appearing in respectable numbers around the world. The Bombardier exhibit, which included business jets and regional airliners, carried the line with a Learjet 40XR, Learjet 60XR, Challenger 605 and the very long-range Global Express XRS.

At the show centre was Swearingen SJ-30 business jet. Close by was the first Farnborough appearance of Swizterland's Pilatus PC-12NG (new generation) single-engined business turboprop.

Moving past the huge Airbus A380, the major aircraft pavilion and compound of Italy's Finmeccanica came into view. Helicopter maker Agusta Westland is part of this conglomerate and displayed 11 helicopters, some of which were fitted out as VIP aircraft.

Next door, Bell Agusta displayed the BA 609 tilt-rotor business test aircraft while Bell Helicopter had a very comfortable Bell 429 on display.

And finally at the Cessna ramp area, there were another nine general aviation and business jets ranging from Citation Mustang, which made its Farnborough Show debut -- to the very fast Citation X corporate jet.

Business jets provide many advantages, including the ability to fly above the weather and above slower airline traffic. Interested?