An early foray into international collaboration on airliners, the twin-engined Dassault Mercure had construction input from Fiat in Italy, CASA in Spain, SABCA in Belgium and Emmen in Switzerland. The prototype made its first flight in May 1971, but it was not a success, a total of only 12 being built.

Initially developed as the “A300B10”, the Airbus A310 was essentially a shorter, lower-capacity variant of the A300B2, with 13 frames deleted from the A300B2’s fuselage, but retaining its eight-abreast cross-section. The A310-300, the first example of which, F-WWCA, is seen here, was a long-range variant

The A310, in the form of the second example built, F-WZLI, went head- to-head with Boeing’s 757 and 767 at the SBAC show at Farnborough in September 1982, all three making their UK public debuts at the week-long event. By that time the A310 had finished its test programme, completed several weeks ahead of schedule. A total of 255 A310s was ultimately built.

The prototype A310, F-WZLH, made its first flight at Toulouse on April 3, 1982, in the colours of both of the type’s launch customers; the starboard side bore Swissair markings and the port side was painted in the livery of Lufthansa. By this point the A310 had garnered 181 sales and options from 15 airlines - a considerably more promising start than that of its predecessor.

A model of the A310 design in a windtunnel at Hatfield. The wing of the new variant was redesigned by BAe, being of shorter span and reduced wing area, and fitted with simpler single-slotted Fowler-type flaps. The outer ailerons were deleted and replaced by spoilers, and the engine pylons were adapted to accommodate all available powerplant options.

With the advent of the twin-engined widebody concept, McDonnell Douglas threw its hat into the ring in the late 1970s with its Advanced Technology Medium Range (ATMR) airliner project. The company, at heart a defence contractor, was already facing headwinds with its DC-10 tri-jet, and the ATMR ultimately faded away with the introduction of the Boeing 757.

A technician works on a large semi-span model of the A300B in the 15ft low-speed windtunnel at the Hawker Siddeley factory at Hatfield. Developed by what was essentially the former de Havilland part of the company, the A300B’s innovative supercritical aerofoil played a major part in making the aircraft the world’s most advanced airliner on its introduction.

Powered by British Rolls-Royce RB.211-535C engines, Boeing’s 757 beat the A310 into the air, the prototype making its maiden flight on February 19, 1982. Eastern Airlines introduced the type into service in early 1983. One of the airline’s early deliveries, N501EA is seen here on its first flight on March 28, 1983.