THE Paris Air Show, which opens today, brings hundreds of aircraft to the skies around the French capital, the usual tense competition between aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus, and a slew of innovations large and small.

A battle is expected in the wide-body aircraft market between the two major plane makers.

The much-anticipated Airbus A350 flew for the first time on Friday, launching a new air race between the European plane maker and Boeing for long-haul wide-body aircraft.

Boeing has dominated the market so far, but troubles with the lithium ion batteries in its 787 Dreamliner are giving customers a reason to give a close look at Airbus' first all-new plane in eight years. The CEO of Airbus parent EADS, Tom Enders, has said he expects a "few hundred" new orders. Boeing executives, meanwhile, downplayed the air show's importance for orders, noting that the two companies have historically split the commercial aircraft market.

A year ago, at the Paris Air Show's sister event in Britain, Boeing beat Airbus for the number of orders announced. Boeing took in US$37 billion in orders and commitments, well above Airbus' US$16.9 billion.

But the announcements during the air shows are not always a reliable sign of business since prices are often discounted and big orders don't always coincide with the event.

The race for the title of biggest plane maker is as tight as ever. In 2012, Airbus delivered 588 planes. That was a record, but one Boeing beat with 601 deliveries, the first time since 2003 it came out on top.

They have swooped into wildfires to take temperatures and tracked animals across Africa. They have guided a fuel tanker to safety through icy waters. Drones are increasingly being used for non-military purposes and are seen to feature prominently at the Paris Air Show.

There are still tough restrictions on their flight for safety reasons, but while the US Federal Aviation Authority works on new rules, the makers of drones will aim to show off innovation and technical prowess at the show. France-based Eurocopter will showcase new technology that can transform a manned helicopter into one that flies without a pilot.

The air show will be less of a sales showcase for latest military hardware and more a place for suppliers to meet up with potential customers.