You're right about the crowds, Raoul. Getting out Friday was a horrific experience, so I didn't even bother with Saturday. Luckily it was better (but not much) earlier in the week during the professional portion.

The one thing about the French that comes closest to making me go postal is what I call the "French queue". You're leaving for the bus, get to the end of the line, and stop. And then watch as 50 people go walking right by you up to the choke point ahead (slowing everyone else down).

The flights were impressive, and the collective gasps of tens of thousands of people as the Sukhoi whips into the Cobra Maneuver is an amazing thing.

The space stuff was pretty light since ESA wasn't participating, and the Arianes 4 & 5 could use a little spiffying up. CNES focused on Earth studies, EADS on launch vehicles, and Russia actually had the best space display (which even included a skyscraper rescue pack for jumping out windows). I put a couple of pictures of the Kliper up at the Space.com Uplink BBS.

The Chinese are starting to get into Regional Jets (and why not, we sold them all the machine tools cheap), the Germans had a really expansive spread, the A380 cross-section was nearly impossible to get into, the A380 flight was cool (and really quiet), I got to touch the Concorde test flight model, and NSS of France had a cool display in the Musee de l'Armee de l'Air, where I also picked up a Shenzou 5 plastic model to put together.

I also saw a lot of really bright red people. It was beautiful weather in Paris this year (save for one day), but being out in the open at an airfield is an invite to sunburn.

Great fun overall. I recommend the experience to everyone.

P.S. The French were great, and that was easily one of easiest experiences I've had over there.