A US Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter plane flies over during a flight display at the Farnborough aerospace show.

Although it was considered a slower-than-normal opening, Etihad Airways ordered 100 planes worth over 20 billion US dollars from Airbus and Boeing, including 10 of the super-jumbo A380.

Stealing the show was Lockheed Martin's F-22 'Raptor' fighter.

Widely considered the world's most advanced fighter, the F-22 streaked through a milestone performance on Monday for a warplane that money cannot buy.

Captain Chris Bergtholdt, the F-22 Raptor Pilot said, "The F-22 is the United States' latest and greatest fighter jet. It is primarily an air-superiority type fighter. The three things that make it a very capable fighter are stealth, supercruise and the integrated avionics."

Japan, Israel and Australia have shown interest in buying the F-22 if the US Congress were to change a law that makes it unavailable for export because it is deemed too good at what it does. The ban was enacted 10 years ago, partly to prevent the spread of US technological know-how and partly to avoid regional arms races.

(CCTV July 18, 2008)