30 years since its first Farnborough air show appearance, the USA Pavilion opened on Monday, touting 270 companies ready to manufacture and export across the world – a dramatic increase from the original cohort of 12 in 1996.

Astronaut Charlie Duke was on hand for the ribbon cutting, 57 years to the day after he served as capsule communicator of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, and to present scholarships later in the week for students and educators from the US and UK to attend Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.

“Our honoured guest this morning reminds you how far a journey can take you,” said Tom Kallman, chief executive of the pavilion organiser Kallman Worldwide.