Buccaneer S.2B ZU-AV1 (XW988) being prepared for departure from A&AEE Boscombe Down to Exeter Airport on April 19, 1996. It was delivered to its new owner, Mike Beachyhead in South Africa during early May.

No doubt a good ‘clutch’ of P-3 Orions will appear for Seasearch 96.

Three-view drawings of the M-29 (M-6P);

Three-view drawings of the SDB (strategic long-range bomber)

Three-view drawings of the 1M (M-2)

A rare visitor to the UK, particularly in a ‘Western style’ colour scheme; Yakovlev Yak-42D RA-42424, of Lukoil, was seen at Stansted on March 28, 1996.

In addition to owning Pucara A-528, the North East Aircraft Museum, Sunderland, has also acquired A-522, formerly on display at the Fleet Air Arm Museum Yeovilton. Since its arrival at the Sunderland site A-522, seen here, has undergone some minor restoration work but there are still signs of battle damage to the airframe.

With pressing constraints on carrier aviation, the US Marine Corps is being pressured to deploy with carrier air wings - a task which detracts from their primary mission of supporting their own troops. This McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet BuNo 164271, of Marine Squadron VMFA-312 Checkerboards, was seen visiting Langley Field, Virginia, on April 3, 1996, in the markings of the air wing aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) instead of the squadron’s usual tail code.