The McDonnell Douglas F-15 in "dirty" configuration, with its generous over-fuselage airbrake extended.

General Dynamics' F-16 celebrated its triumph in the USAF Lightweight Fighter fly-off with a spirited display.

Israeli Aircraft Industries' Kfir-C2 displays its dog-tooth leading edge and the canard foreplane designed to increase combat manoeuvrability.

Replacing the L-29 Delfin trainer in the Eastern bloc will be the Aero L-39 Albatross.

Western eyes were able to examine Ilyushin's wide-body Il-86 for the first time, although it did not participate in the flying display. Its 455,000lb maximum take-off weight is spread by the triple main landing gear, and power comes from four Kuznetsov NK-86 engines. A full load of 350 passengers can be carried for about 2,400 n.m. The aircraft at Paris was the first prototype, the second is due to fly shortly, and production is under way.

The Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet trainer makes a slow pass with everything down.

Argentina's air show debut was made by the FMA IA-58 Pucara counter-insurgency aircraft, powered by two 1,022 e.h.p. Turbomeca Astazou XVI G turboprops. It first flew on November 8, 1974.

Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation exhibited the Falcon 50, which flew last November.

Northrop's YF-17, now serving as the prototype for the US Navy's F-18 Naval Strike Fighter, makes a snappy take-off.

This plan view of the Northrop F-18 prototype portrays the leading-edge wing root extensions and the underwing intakes. Sidewinders are carried on the wing tips.

A view of the Northrop F-18 prototype which emphasises its twin fins.

The DHC-5D Buffalo, now re-entering production, was one of the representatives from de Havilland Canada, and treated everyone to its usual polished Stol display.

Another Israeli Aircraft Industries exhibit was the IAI-201 Arava, seen in its stretched form, fitted with Whitcomb winglets. 1,600lb extra fuel is carried in the completely “wet” wing.

Undoubtedly one of the most unconventional aircraft was Poland's WSK-Mielec M-15 turbofan-powered agricultural biplane, with chemical hoppers in the wing gaps.

One of the two AMST contenders, Boeing's YC-14 was making its first appearance outside the USA. Note the extensive flappery.

America's other AMST is the McDonnell Douglas YC-15, and the first prototype is seen here, carrying a CFM56 engine in its port outer nacelle and JT8D-17s in the other three.

Registered G-BETB especially for its Paris Salon appearance, this BAC Jaguar T.Mk 11 is actually B-08 G27-279, powered by a pair of uprated Adour Dash 26 engines.