Boeing (NYSE: BA)

There have been some fireworks at the Farnborough Air Show for The Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) and I'm not talking about the aerobatics displays. Boeing has had major orders on the first two days of the air show, outpacing rival Airbus.

The much anticipated show which runs July 9-15 has given hope to Boeing that it could catch up to Airbus as the world's biggest aircraft producer. Airbus last year dominated the festival, which alternates between Farnborough and Paris, with its "Neo" aircraft, but Boeing is leading the charge this year.

The aircraft industry has been thriving the past few years and Airbus has led Boeing in market share since 2006. Boeing hopes the Farnborough Air Show will be a catalyst for its comeback, fueled by orders of its new 737 Max plane.

U.S. Air Lease Corporation on Monday purchased 75 of the 737 Max jets and founder Steven Udvar-Hazy commemorated the opening of the festival and the deal by ringing Monday's NYSE opening bell via satellite.

That excitement was followed Tuesday by news that GE Capital Aviation, the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of General Electric (NYSE: GE), announced it would purchase 75 of the updated 737 Max 8s and 25 of the current 737s.

Airbus has announced smaller orders, one Tuesday from Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific worth up to $4.2 billion and two Wednesday worth about $4.4 billion.

Boeing's orders with GE and ALC are said to be worth up to $9.2 and $7.2 billion, respectively, but it's not known for sure. That's where the mystery of the show and the secretive nature of the industry come into play.