The 1989 Paris Air Show was nice, but the Russian transports which could be seen before and after the show were much nicer! Sadly, this Antonov 22 crashed on take-off from Tver on 11 November 1992.

In the older days the Paris Air Show often brought very interesting Soviet transports, such as Il-76s and Antonov 22s like this one. They were not present during the show itself, but during the days before and after. CCCP-09333, seen here taxiing in after landing, with its four engines and eight contra-rotating props making an unbelievable sound, first flew in May 1972. It was withdrawn from use in the mid 1990s, and broken up for scrap at Ivanovo during 1997.

The 1989 Paris Air Salon was the first time this unique aircraft was shown to the western world, only six months after its first flight. After a successful week at the Air Salon, the world's only Mriya is seen here on its way back home to the Soviet Union, faithfully carrying the Buran, the USSR's answer to the Space Shuttle. Hidden away in the big belly of this magnificent beast is the wreck of a MiG-29 that crashed earlier during the show.