Jets and helicopters galore at Paris Air-show

Aerospace companies from across the globe have been showing off their latest jets and cutting-edge technology at the Le Bourget, international Air show, north of Paris. For three days, throngs of people have revelled in flying displays, dominated by industry heavy weights Airbus and Boeing.

Alpha Jet aircraft from the Patrouille de France (PAF) participate in a flying display at the 51st Paris Air Show at Le Bourget airport near Paris, June 19, 2015 REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol

Paris skies have been buzzing with noise from fighter jets, planes and helicopters, at the International Air show, where industry heavy weights Boeing and Airbus have dominated not just flying displays, but commercial dealings.

The American manufacturer announced the sale of 145 of its planes, worth a total of 18.6 billion dollars, overtaking its European rival Airbus, which sold just 124 planes, estimated at 16.3 billion dollars.

Questions over fuel efficiency and whether its engines are good enough have cast doubt over Airbus A380 airliner, allowing Boeing to reclaim the dominant position.

The aviation sector is indeeed striving to improve fuel efficiency under the weight of rising fuel costs and in the run-up to crunch climate talks at the end of the year, aimed at setting a global cap on greenhouse gas emissions.

Meanwhile, France's Rafale fighter jets were also on show, although to a lesser extent compared to the business dealings of both Airbus and Boeing.

The French airliner has seen its profile soar in recent months after several lucrative sales, notably to India and Qatar.

Also at the show was France's Economy minister Emmanuel Macron. He promised small and intermediary airline companies to protect them from fluctuations in the US dollar.