Dubai Airshow

In pictures: The big stories of the 2017 Dubai Airshow

Getty Images | Karim Sahib | AFP

The 2017 Dubai Airshow shocked on more than one occasion with surprise orders and failed deals.

As the sun sets on the biannual showcase, CNBC looks back at the images and news that hit the headlines.

A Boeing surprise

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner in flight.
Boeing Company | Paul Weatherman

The American aerospace giant came roaring out of the blocks on day one of the show when Emirates inked a $15.1 billion order for 40 of Boeing's 787-10 jetliners. Deliveries will start in 2022.

The deal that wasn't

NASSER YOUNES | AFP | Getty Images

Many scribes predicted Emirates would place an order for another 30 of the Airbus A380. However, Emirates first wanted a guarantee that the superjumbo will still be in production in 10 years' time and the heavily-tipped deal never came.

UAE defense spend

File photo of an F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Source: U.S. Defense

The United Arab Emirates will pay Lockheed Martin Corp $1.6 billion to upgrade 80 F-16 jet fighters. The UAE Ministry of Defense also announced upgrades to its Dassault Mirage 2000 fighters as well as a $250 million purchase of five Airbus CN295 tactical aircraft.

Steps to supersonic 

Boom Technology

Boom Supersonic says it remains on track to return commercial passengers to supersonic flight for the first time since Concorde was retired. The U.S. firm announced key technical and legal appointments and claimed U.S. laws about sonic booms could change early next year.

Backing for the C-Series

A Bombardier CS300 C Series aircraft, manufactured by Bombardier Inc., lands after a flying display on day two of the 51st International Paris Air Show in Paris, France, on Tuesday, June 16, 2015.
Jasper Juinen | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Assuming anti-trust hurdles are cleared, Bombardier's struggling C-Series program will soon have Airbus as the majority owner. At the airshow, EgyptAir backed the plane's future with a $1.1 billion draft order for 12 planes, with an option to commit to 12 more.

Galactic ambition

UAE space agency

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said that despite its space agency only being three years old, it remained on track to launch a probe to Mars by 2020. The "Hope" probe would touch down on the red planet by 2021, in time to commemorate the UAE's 50th anniversary.

That Airbus order

Airbus | C. Brinkmann

On Wednesday, it was announced that 430 Airbus A320 aircraft are to be bought by a U.S. private equity firm. With a total list price of nearly $50 billion, it is heralded as potentially the biggest aircraft order in history. It caps a notable career for Airbus' outgoing sales chief John Leahy.

Boeing fights back

Source: Boeing

But just moments after the Airbus news, Boeing proved it wasn't quite done yet. The U.S. firm revealed a $27 billion order from Flydubai. The budget carrier has a provisional deal to buy 225 of Boeing's 737 MAX. That is believed to be the largest ever single-aisle order.