According to Boeing's annual forecast, published this month, more than 35 000 new aircraft -- worth perhaps $4.8 trillion -- will be needed over the next 20 years.

The biennial event at Le Bourget airfield which opened on June 17th is the aviation world's biggest jamboree, and every manufacturer and supplier struts its stuff in the hope of attracting more business.

Things are looking bright for the civilian side of aerospace these days, though not for defence, with budget cut in developed countries.

Almost 25 000 of them will be single aisle planes, and almost 13000 of them will be used in Asia.

As emerging economies grow, enthusiasm for air travel is growing even faster.

This is a market that Western manufacturers -- two in particular -- now dominate.

News of new aircraft, orders and technology rained from the skies this week at the Paris Air Show, where a bumper crowd of producers and customers dodged a real downpour with mingled curses and exhilaration.

Technological advances have made aircraft cheaper and cleaner to run, so airlines everywhere are keen to replace older planes.

The 314-seater boasts a 25% lower operating cost than its predecessors, thanks to lightweight composites and a new Rolls-Royce engine.

Airbus got off to an early public-relations lead with the maiden flight of it new A350 on June 14th.

By mid-week Airbus had added 59 to its original 613 orders for the aircraft, and more for its older models.

Even its little-loved double-decker superjumbo, the A380, got a look-in, with its first order since October. Thank you.