W/S Dassault Rafale Fighter

W/S Dassault Rafale Fighter

W/S Dassault Rafale Fighter

W/S Dassault Rafale Fighter

W/S Eurocopter Tigre EC665 Attack Helicopter

W/S Eurocopter Tigre EC665 Attack Helicopter

C/U Airbus A 400 M Atlas

C/U Airbus A 400 M Atlas

C/U Airbus A 400 M Atlas

C/U Airbus A 400 M Atlas

W/S Airbus A380

W/S Airbus A380

W/S A380 Airbus

M/S People at the Paris Air Show

M/S Fighter jet at the Paris Air Show

W/S Aerial acrobatics

W/S Aerial acrobatics

W/S Aerial acrobatics

SCRIPT

France: Stunts and speed on first day of 50th Paris Air Show

The 50th International Paris Airshow took off on Monday, with leading avionics companies competing for glory and contracts. In spite of the European economic crisis, more than 2,000 exhibitors presented their latest aerospace innovations at the world's oldest and largest airshow. Thousands of guests flocked to Le Bourget airport to witness technical stunts by world class pilots as well as displays of the newest avionics technology.

France's Rafale fighter lit up the skies on Monday, with pilots performing aerial twists and turns as well as flying straight upwards. Built by Dassault Aviation, the Rafale entered service into the French Navy in 2004 and French Air Force in 2006. India concluded one of the world's largest defence import orders for 126 Rafale jets in 2012 in a deal worth approximately $15 billion (€11.3 bn).

Airbus also featured several of its aircraft, including the A400M Atlas, a military transport aircraft, and the A380, the world's largest commercial passenger jet-liner. The Paris Air Show plays host to a competition between Airbus and American rival Boeing, the world's top two commercial jet airliner manufacturers, for contract deals signed with clients at the show. Although Airbus has already secured deals worth about $13 bn (€9.7 bn), Boeing stole the show last year in the UK, securing double the volume in contracts compared to Airbus, worth about $35.5 bn (€26.6 bn).

Helicopter pilots performed fly-bys in Eurocopter's Tigre EC 665. The four-bladed, twin-engine multi-role attack helicopter first entered service in 2003. Developed in response to a possible Soviet invasion of Europe, the attack helicopter now enjoys worldwide popularity and has been integrated into the Saudi and Australian military forces as well as those of European nations such as Spain and France.

Forty-five different countries are set to participate at the Paris Air Show, which will take place at the Le Bourget exhibition centre from June 17 to 23. The first four days are devoted solely to trade visitors, followed by three days open to the general public.

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