The BAC/Breguet Jaguar S06 appeared at the Paris Air Show with underwing drop tanks, and bombs on the fuselage strong points. Prominent also in this view is the bulged rear fuselage incorporated since the prototype first flew.

Jaguar S07 has re-emerged at Warton with a redesigned nose incorporating a Ferranti laser rangefinder; the production fin and computer-controlled navigation and weapon aiming subsystem (NAVWASS) have also now been fitted. Jaguar B08, the British two-seat prototype, was rolled-out at Warton on June 1, 1971 and has now joined the other Jaguars in flight test.

The accompanying photograph of the Ilyushin Il-76 reveal the close similarity in configuration of this new Soviet heavy freighter to that of the Lockheed C-141A Starlifter.

Flight testing of the Dassault Mercure short-haul twin-engined transport began on 28 May 1971, and the aircraft was demonstrated at the Paris Air Show a week later. Powered by Pratt & Whitney JT8D-7 engines, this prototype will be followed by a second with the definitive JT8D-15 engines and higher operating weights.

The Northrop P-530 Cobra advanced air superiority fighter, illustrated by the accompanying general arrangement drawing, has been based on F-5 concepts and philosophy but bears no resemblance to the earlier design. Northrop is currently endeavouring to enlist foreign financing for the development of the Cobra which is a purely private venture intended to form the basis of a collaborative manufacturing programme. Including research and development, the Cobra is expected to have a unit price of the order of $3m (?1,25m) and will be powered by two General Electric J101-GE-100 turbojets each having an augmented thrust of approximately 15,000 lb (6 804 kg). Development of the Cobra airframe and systems is expected to cost $100m (?41,6m), Northrop having already spent some $22m (?9,1Im), and it is estimated that the development and flight testing of the J101 engine will cost about $150m (?62,5m.).

As revealed, the Dassault Mirage G8.01 differs in many respects from the Mirage G1 which was destroyed during its 316th flight on 13 January, 1971. Both the fuselage and the vertical tail surfaces have been substantially redesigned, and power is provided by two SNECMA Atar 9K-50 turbojets of 15,873 lb (7 200 kg) thrust with reheat which will eventually be supplanted by advanced-technology SNECMA M53 engines of 18,650 lb (8 460 kg) thrust. Since its first flight at Istres on 8 May, the Mirage G8 has made extremely rapid progress in its flight test programme and is to be equipped with the multi-mode Thomson-CSF Cyrano IV radar, the nav/attack system being based in other respects on that of the Jaguar A, and including laser range-finding, doppler and bombing computer elements. Maximum take-off is of the order of 40,500 lb (18 470 kg), and a second Mirage G8 prototype is scheduled to fly next year, and although no production funding is included in the current (1971-6) defence budget, both Dassault and the Armee de I’Air hope that some juggling of existing programmes will provide funds for production preparations with a view to an in-service date of 1978-9.

The accompanying photograph of the CASA C.212 Aviocar STOL utility transport prototype was taken at Le Bourget just before an inadvertent asymmetric reverse thrust selection resulted in a heavy landing and a broken mainspar. The Aviocar had been under test since 26 March 1971, and it is anticipated that a second prototype will shortly join the flight test programme, current plans calling for a pre-series of 12 aircraft with production deliveries commencing in 1973. Designed primarily for military operation, the Aviocar can accommodate 15 paratroops and a jumpmaster or 10 casualty stretchers, three seated casualties and medical attendants. The Spanish Air Force has a requirement for some 50 Aviocars to replace its aged Junkers Ju 52/3m transports.

This model of the BAC P.59 basic trainer was displayed at the Paris Air Show. Submitted to meet the RAF specification, the P.59 is powered by a R-R Viper 600 variant.

An impression of the Aerospatiale A.904

An impression of the BAC QSTOL.

An impression of the Boeing 751.