Russian Air Force Tu-160 Blackjack 06 Red, one of two seen at Engels recently carrying the colours of the Russian flag on the fin and the name of an old Russian knight, Il’ya Muromets, in large red lettering on the nose behind a tapered blue and yellow flash.

For the formal disbandment ceremony of the Armee de l'Air’s Escadron de Chasse 3/12 Cornouaille at Cambrai on June 20, 1995, Mirage F1C 10/'12-ZD' was painted in these special markings which included the badges of the squadron’s two flights, the dogue d'ulm (bull mastiff) on the port side as seen here, and the scorpion on the starboard side. The unit’s aircraft were finally retired on July 31, ending the Mirage F1C's association with the air defence of France, which began when the unit was formed on December 1, 1954, as the first unit to re-equip with the then new fighter. One squadron, EC 4/33 Vexin based at Djibouti, remains equipped with the F1C while 55 more of the type have been converted to F1CTs for attack duties with EC 1/13 and EC 3/13 at Colmar.

Illustrating the relatively new Macedonian registration prefix is Antonov An-12B Cub Z3-AFA, a new addition to the Skopje-based Avioimpex fleet, seen here landing at Ostend Airport, Belgium, on June 13, 1995.

As reported last month, Krasnoyarsk-based carrier Kras Air will become the first Russian carrier to operate a US registered aircraft on services from Moscow to New York and Los Angeles when its two DC-10-30s begin services in the autumn. The first aircraft, N525MD, is seen here at Phoenix/Sky Harbor Airport earlier this year, having been in storage there for some months pending delivery. Maintenance of the two aircraft will be undertaken by Air France.

The first Schweizer RU-38A Twin Condor reconnaissance aircraft for the US Coast Guard, N61428, during an early test flight. Although first flown several months ago, the type was not unveiled publicly until July 20, 1995 - three are on order for the USCG and Schweizer are seeking other customers for the type.

Aer Lingus Commuter BAe 146-300 EI-CLG/Fionnbar/St Finbarr. the second of three on lease from BAe's AMO, was delivered to the airline on June 8, 1995 and entered service the following day. The third aircraft achieved what is believed to be a record, entering service only 40 minutes after delivery!