Berlin  - Three giant aircraft including the jumbo A380 from Airbus dominated the view as the Berlin Air Show began Tuesday alongside Schoenefeld Airport in the south-east of the German capital.

The A380, which has been dogged by manufacturing delays, is the largest passenger plane ever built. Also on view at the show, known by its German initials as the ILA, are the two biggest series- production planes ever made, the Antonov An 124 and C-5 Galaxy.

They were among more than 300 aircraft on show at the event, where flyovers must follow special safety rules, with no showy, risky manoeuvres, to make sure that there are no accidents.

This ILA has a record 1,127 companies and institutions from the aerospace and defence industry exhibiting. India has pride of place among the 37 countries involved as the "partner nation" of the fair.

Organizers said more than 200,000 people were expected at the show by the time it ends on Sunday. During the first three days the general public is excluded and only trade visitors and officials will be admitted.

The Air Show has attracted additional attention amid speculation that a European manned space flight might be possible as early as 2017. Such a project would give a big fillip to the aerospace industry.

Up to now, Europe has lacked its own human space transportation system and has been reliant on the Americans and the Russians for getting its people into orbit.

The European company EADS and the German Space Agency (DLR) have advanced ideas on how to use European equipment for manned space flight, including adaptation of a new space station freighter, the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), to carry people.

Chancellor Angela Merkel was planning a 90-minute tour of the exhibition, accompanied by Arakkaparambil Kurian Antony, the Indian defence minister.

Established in Frankfurt in 1909, the ILA is today one of the world's oldest aviation trade shows. Since 1992 it has been staged every two years at Schoenefeld Airport, now being rebuilt to become the capital city's sole airport. (dpa)