Flying high! Incredible pictures from the Paris Air Show of the world’s most advanced jets performing for the crowds


It's the biennial talent contest where the sky's the limit.

These incredible pictures show the world's biggest aerospace manufacturers demonstrating their most advanced aircraft at the Paris Air Show.

Thousands of professionals and spectators have flocked to Le Bourget airfield north of Paris for the event which gives the likes of Boeing and Airbus a chance to show off their finest feats of engineering.

A mixture of both civilian and military aircraft has been on display all week, as the big players look to impress clients and secure an order.

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Spectacular: Eurocopter Tiger H61 helicopters perform a demonstration during the 50th Paris Air Show at Le Bourget airport, north of Paris

Fire power: Aerospace manufacturers use the show to demonstrates their best, such as this French Air Force Rafale fighter

Impressive: The sleek and fast Sukhoi SU-35 jetfighter takes to the skies - it is built primarily for the Russian Air Force

Display: A Fouga Magister aerobatic plane performs a majestic turn in the skies above northern Paris

Airbus and Boeing both won pledges for big purchases of long-haul jets earlier this week.



The global aviation event is once again playing host to the rivalry between U.S.-based Boeing and France-based Airbus. After several years of success for their smaller models, the world's leading plane makers are hoping to get orders for the bigger, more expensive long-haul jets.

Boeing said GECAS, the aircraft leasing arm of General Electric, has made a promise to buy 10 of its 787 jets. Those would be worth more than $2.4 billion at list prices, though customers often negotiate deep discounts. GECAS is ordering the new version of the 787, dubbed the Dreamliner, the 787-10X.

Qatar Airways also put in orders for Boeing's other long-haul aircraft, the Boeing 777.

Meanwhile, Airbus announced a potential order for its superjumbo 800-passenger A380 jets, which have seen disappointing sales since launching. Doric Lease Corp., signed a memorandum of understanding for the purchase of 20 A380s. That deal, if confirmed, would be worth $8 billion at list prices.

Graceful: The Airbus A400M, built in Spain, is used for long-range military transport

Attraction: Hundreds of thousands of professionals and spectators have flocked to Paris this week for the biannual air show

Manouvres: The airshow gives the world's manufacturers a chance to showcase their best aircraft in the hope of securing lucrative contracts

Attention-seeking: Russia's Su-35 fighter jet is hoping to get plenty of orders this year in the absence of any American competition

Pole position: America has not displayed any jets at the airshow for the first time in decades because of budget cuts in Washington

Airbus is also hoping to attract attention to its new wide-body A350 aircraft, which had its maiden flight in France last Friday and can carry up to 440 passengers. The A350 is Airbus' best chance to catch up with Boeing's 787 and 777, which carry up to 300 and 365 passengers respectively, in the race to sell planes used on long-haul flights.

The most spectacular displays at the air show, though, are the demonstrations of fighter jets rocketing up toward space before diving back down gracefully. Russia's Su-35 flew for the first time outside of its home country.

The twin-engine multipurpose fighter is hoping to clean up orders in the absence of American competition this year. American fighter jets are not on display for the first time in more than two decades because of budget cuts in Washington.

Smaller planes dominated the last air show in Paris and have also had a hood showing this year.



Head to head: The biggest competition is between aviation giants Airbus and Boeing who are both trying to sell planes used for long-haul flights

Commemorating: This year is the 50th anniversary of the Paris Air Show which claims to be the oldest and largest in the world

Colourful: Jets from the 'Patrouille de France' aerobatic team delight the crowds with a synchronised demonstration

Patriotic: The Alpha Jet planes were coloured red, white and blue in tribute France's national flag G-Force: The stylish Rafale performs a stomach-churning turn high above the crowds Lightning: The French Rafale jetfighter can travel at speeds of up to 2,130km/hour in high altitude and is armed with missiles and guns

Close-up: The Rafale jetfighter in all its glory. Depending on the model they can cost up to 90million Euros each Monster of the sky: The Airbus A380 moves on the tarmac following a display as huge crowds gather for the show Magic: The Paris Air Show can trace its history back to a motor show first held in 1908 Majestic: The dazzling Patrouille de France aerobatic team take off in formation and a cloud of smoke Groundbreaking: The Airbus A380 is the largest passenger plane in the sky with two decks and seating for 525 people Ominous: This is the Piaggio Aero, P.1HH Hammerhead - Europe's largest unmanned aircraft built in Italy Unveiled: Eight nations have ordered 174 Airbus A400M's between them Lethal: The Tiger is a four-bladed, twin-engine attack helicopter. It had recently been used in Libya and Mali Debut: The Sukhoi SU-35 was flying for the first time outside Russia at the air show Orders: The Rafale jet fighter has been exported to several countries outside of Europe including the Indian Air Force Engineering: The A400M's wings are primarily carbon fibre reinforced plastic while the eight-bladed propeller is also made from a woven composite material





