The largest commercial aircraft ever built in the United States, Boeing's 747-8 Freighter, made its maiden flight today, marking an important step forward in manufacturer's groundbreaking, but aging, 747 product line.
The 2011 Paris Air Show was the best ever for Airbus, earning firm orders for 418 aircraft worth about $44 billion at list prices, compared to only 47 planes valued at $7.5 billion for Boeing.