The newest member of the Boeing range of commercial jetliners made its international air show debut earlier when the first 747-8 Intercontinental touched down at Paris Le Bourget Airport.

The 747-8 - the longest passenger plane in the world, coming in at 76.4 metres (over 250 feet) - landed at a windy Le Bourget ahead of the biannual Paris Air Show.

The 747-8 Intercontinental flew at Mach 0.85 and travelled approximately 4,400 nautical miles (8,149 km) from its base in Seattle.

This will be the first appearance for the new model outside of the United States.

Capt. Mark Feuerstein, Boeing chief pilot for the 747 program, was at the controls of the airplane when it landed.

He was joined by co-pilots Capt. Steve Taylor, president of Boeing Business Jets; Capt. Rene Gonzalez, BBJ chief pilot; and Capt. Kirk Vining of Boeing Flight Test and Evaluation.

The 747-8 Intercontinental is the newest member of the 747 family, bringing 21st Century technology to the world’s favourite jetliner, and will be cleaner and more efficient than any airplane in its class.

The airplane, one of five Boeing jetliners that will be on display at Paris, will be at the show until Tuesday, June 21st, when it will return to flight test activity.