An ingenious development by Cobham-owned Sargent Fletcher is the ARTIS (Aerial Refuelling Tank System) for non-probe aircraft such as the F-16 seen in model form, F-5, A-4, Mirage 5, etc. It consists of a standard 370 or 275 US gal drop tank incorporating an extendable probe for refuelling from a range of tankers fitted with hose and drogue units like the KC-130, KC-10 and B707. After refuelling, the probe can be retracted back into the fighter’s underwing pod. It is claimed to be less than a quarter the cost of fitting a fixed probe.

India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme is expected to accelerate following the lifting of US sanctions and the agreement to supply more General Electric F404 turbofan engines. The second aircraft is due to fly ‘shortly’ and the Indian government has authorised Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to start production of a batch of eight for delivery in 2006. The Indian Kaveri engine is said to he causing development problems and appears unlikely to power LCAs in the immediate future. This LCA model was shown in attack configuration.

The Antonov An-38-100 is a far cry from the original An-14 Pchyelka (Little Bee), developed for Aeroflot in the mid-1950s, through the Polish-built An-28 of the late 1960s, to the present stretched fuselage multi-role transport. Priced at around $4.5m, the aircraft is powered by 1,760shp Honeywell TPE331-14GR turboprops and can accommodate 27 passengers.

In a 'prawn cocktail' scheme, the Xi’an MA60 regional aircraft brightened an often grey flying day. The MA is understood to stand for Modern Ark.

While Gulfstream announced that it had sold three G200 midsize business jets to Hainan Airlines of China for $60m, the first sale by Gulfstream in this country, the example on display sat alongside a G100. This was Chinese-registered as B-20001 and carried an aerial target system, manufactured by Meggitt, under the port wing

G100, chinese-registered as B-20001 and carried an aerial target system, manufactured by Meggitt, under the port wing

Korea Aerospace Industries KT-1 basic trainer, 35 of which are reportedly in Republic of Korea Air Force service. Exports involve seven to Indonesia with 13 on option, while the hope is that the Singapore AF will choose the type for its future turboprop trainer.