The airshow was valuable not only for its spectacle, but it also served as a means for the Tsarist Government to flaunt its military might to the outside world. Regardless of how these airplanes were acquired, possession was all that mattered.
In a sense, being able to purchase airplanes was also a display of strength. After all, many countries wished to buy them but couldn't.
Perhaps intentionally, or perhaps not, during the airshow, Alexander III also invited envoys from various European countries to attend, including the French Ambassador.
According to European convention, an ally's ally is not necessarily a friend, nor is an ally's enemy necessarily a foe.
The Franco-Austrian War and the Anglo-Russian War are considered separate conflicts not interfering with each other.
Thus, even as wars raged across Europe, France and Russia maintained normal diplomatic relations.
