France

The Aerospatiale Epsilon (also known by its company designation of TB30) is a tandem two seat light trainer used primarily by the French armed forces. Powered by a 300hp Lycoming engine, it has a top speed of 230mph and range of about 750 miles. Since its first flight in December 1979, some 174 of them have been built. It is 24 feet 7 inches long, with a 25 feet 9 inch wing span and gross weight of 2,860lb. It has a couple of underwing hardpoints for fuel tanks or practise bombs.

This one was at Farnborough in September 1986.

The Fouga CM170 Magister was the world's first purpose built primary jet trainer, having its first flight in July 1952. Its V tail makes it very distinctive. It is powered by two Turbomeca Marbore turbojets, each of 880 lb thrust, giving it a top speed of 444mph and range of 575 miles. It is 33 feet long with a wing span of 39 feet 10 inches, and maximum take-off weight of 7,050lb. All told, 918 were built, and used by a wide variety of air forces. The French navy version was called the CM175 Zephyr, and the Israeli forces called it the Zukit.

The top picture shows a Belgian Magister in special anniversary colour scheme at Mildenhall, probably in the late 1980s. The lower picture is of the Belgian air force's aerobatic team, the Diables Rouges (Red Devils), at Finningley, probably in 1976.

The Microjet 200 is a diminutive jet trainer, only 21 feet 10 inches long and with a wing span of 24 feet 10 inches long. It is powered by two 290lb Microturbo jets. This gives it a speed of 290mph and range of 450 miles. It first flew in June 1980. Only three were built; it proved underpowered for its intended market.

This one was at Paris, date uncertain

France / Germany

The Alpha Jet was a joint venture between Dassault-Breguet in France and Dornier in Germany. It could reasonably be considered a Continental equivalent of the British Hawk, dating from a similar period (it first flew in October 1973). Unlike the Hawk or the Aero L-39, though, it is a twin, being powered by two Snecma (Turbomeca) Larzac turbofans, each of 2,970lb thrust. Top speed is 570mph and range 360 miles. It is 43 feet 5 inches long, with a wing span of 29 feet 10 inches, and maximum weight 17,640lb. It comes in two flavours: the `A', a light attack variant used primarily by the German air force and equipped with a cannon and five weapons hardpoints; and the `E' trainer variant used by the French. About 500 have been built in total, including many for export.

The top one was at Fairford in July 2007. The lower picture is a very brightly painted Belgian air force machine at Mildenhall, date uncertain.

India

This picture shows the Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) Kiran & HTT34 lining up for takeoff together on a very gloomy afternoon at Farnborough in September 1984. The Kiran, which first flew in September 1964, was a basic jet trainer rather like the Jet Provost, powered by a Bristol Viper turbojet. The version pictured here is a Kiran mark 2, which first flew in July 1976, powered by a 4,130lb Orpheus engine. 118 mark 1s and 61 mark 2s were built. Both versions are 34 feet 9 inches ling, with wing span of 35 feet 11 inches. Top speed is 430mph, and gross weight (of the Mark 2) is 10,900lb. Only the mark 2 can carry armament, with two Aden guns and four hardpoints.

The HTT34 was an unsuccessful attempt to produce a turboprop version of the earlier HTT32 Deepak, with a 420shp Allison250 engine. It first flew in June 1984. Only one was ever built before it was cancelled due to lack of interest.

Italy

The Aermacchi Mb339 is Italy's tandem advanced jet trainer. Powered by the capable Rolls-Royce Viper turbojet, giving 4,400lb thrust, it manages 600mph and has a range of 730 miles. It first flew in August 1976, and is operated by the air forces of seven countries in addition to the Italians. A special version without the wing tip tanks, the Mb339PAN, was built to equip the Italian national aerobatic team, the Frecce Tricolori, replacing their earlier Fiat G-91PAN. Its straight wings have a span of 36 feet 11 inches; fuselage length is 36 feet 10 inches. Maximum weight is 14,000 lb.

It is capable of carrying light armament on six underwing stores points, either for the light attack role or as a weapons trainer.

The top picture was taken at Farnborough in September 1976, only a month after the type's first flight. The lower picture shows an Italian air force example at Mildenhall in 1997.

The Aermacchi M311 is a new design of primary jet trainer, intended to supersede the Italian company's earlier (and similar) S211 design. It competed unsuccessfully for the US Air Force's Primary Aircrew Training System (hence the registration I-PATS).

This company demonstrator was at Fairford in July 2005.

Netherlands

The Fokker S11 Instructor could almost be considered a Dutch equivalent of the Percival Prentice. The resemblance is superficial, however, because although they are of similar vintage, the Instructor is a much smaller and more agile aircraft. It is 26 feet 6 inches long and has a 35 foot 9 inch wing span. Gross weight is 2,420lb, almost half that of the Prentice. Powered by a 190hp Lycoming O-435 engine, it has a top speed of 135mph and range of 430 miles.

365 were built, including 150 in Italy as the Macchi Mb416 and 100 in Brazil as the T-21.

This former Dutch air force example was at Denham in June 1984.

Russia

The Yakovlev YAK11 is blessed with the singularly apposite NATO codename of `Moose'. It is a tough, rugged, imposing machine, dominated by its 570hp Shvetsov Ash21 radial engine, which gives it a superb top speed of 290mph. Unusually for a Russian aircraft of the period (it first flew in 1946), it also has an excellent range of 800 miles. At 27 feet 10 inches long, and with the elegant thin wing being 30 feet 10 inches in span, it is actually not quite as huge as it looks; but its gross weight of 5,740lb is telling. Its aerobatic performance is excellent, especially in roll.

Having been retired from military service, a few are now in private hands, including this one, seen at Cranfield, date uncertain.

Spain

The CASA 101 Aviojet is the Spanish tandem seat advanced trainer! Known in Spanish air force service as the T-36, it competes with the Mb339 or the Hawk. Powered by a single Garrett TFE731 turbofan giving 4,100lb thrust, it has a top speed of 410mph and range of 2,300 miles. Gross weight is 13,860lb. It is 40 feet 7 inches long, with a wing span of 34 feet 5 inches. For the light attack role, it can be equipped with a cannon and has the normal array of hardpoints to carry weaponry externally. From its first flight in June 1977, 135 have been built, serving with the air forces of Spain, Chile, Honduras and Jordan.

This Spanish air force example was at Farnborough in 1986.

Sweden

The SAAB 91 Safir is unmistakeable, with its short stubby undercarriage and square tail. It was designed as a three seat trainer and light liaison aircraft for the Swedish air force, and first flew in November 1945. Various versions have been powered by various engines, ranging from the initial 120hp De Havilland Gipsy Major up to the 190hp Lycoming O-435. At 25 feet 7 inches long and having a wing span of 34 feet 9 inches, it is within a few inches of being the same size as a Chipmunk, but at 2,370lb gross weight it is significantly heavier. VNE is 215mph (though I wouldn't like to try it), and range up to 400 miles. All told, 474 of these capable aircraft were built.

This one, operated by the Air France Aero Club, was at Toussus in June 1979.

The SAAB 105 is a two seat jet trainer which can also be modified to carry external stores. Its two 1,635lb Turbomeca Aubisque engines (I haven't found another aircraft powered by these - any offers?) give it a top speed of 470mph and range of 1,200 miles, with gross weight of 8,900lb. It is 35 feet 9 inches long; its shoulder mounted wing spans 30 feet 10 inches. It first flew in June 1963. 148 were built for the Swedish air force, plus 40 of an export version for Austria.

This company demonstrator was pictured on a beautiful day at Farnborough, September 1976

Switzerland

The Pilatus P-2 was the first of the specialist trainers produced by this well known Swiss company. It first flew in April 1945. It is powered by a meaty 465hp Argus inline engine, which gives it a top speed of 210mph and range of 350 miles. It is heavy for its class, weighing in at 4,300lb, but this does not stop it being a very effective performer. It is 29 feet 9 inches long, with a wing span of 36 feet 1 inch.

Following withdrawal from Swiss air force service, several were sold to private operators. This one visited Yeovilton in July 1986.

The Pilatus PC7 Turbo-Trainer was one of the first in the current generation of turbine powered initial trainers, having its first flight in August 1978. It quickly established a niche for the Swiss company in the training market, with around 500 having been built for 20 air forces. Its single 700shp Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprop engine gives it a cruising speed of 250kt and range of 810nm. Length is 33 feet 3 inches and the wing span, almost the same, 33 feet 5 inches. With a gross weight of 4,960lb, there is enough power to lift a range of external stores on six hardpoints.

This company demonstrator was in fact an earlier PC-3 which had been re-engined as a PC7 technology demonstrator; it was at Farnborough in September 1976.

The Pilatus PC9 is essentially an upgraded PC-7, the main differences being the more powerful 950shp engine, and the stepped cockpit which gives the instructor better visibility. The extra power increases the cruising speed to 270kt; gross weight is 5,180lb. It first flew in July 1984. 270 have been built for twelve air forces. In addition, the type (somewhat modified) was entered for the US Air Force's PATS competition, in partnership with Raytheon. It won; 780 are being built for the USAF as the Raytheon T-6A Texan II.

This one was at Fairford, July 2005

The Avia FL3 is a delightful little two seat trainer made in the 1940s. In the literature there are conflicting views of whether it was built in Italy or Yugoslavia, and the maker's name (Azionara Vercellese Ind. Aeronautiche) can hardly be more Italian, but in fact it was physically made in what is now Croatia - hence the Croatian air force markings. Grossing only 525Kg and with a tiny CNA D4 engine, this is definitely towards the basic end of the training spectrum.

This is the only one in the UK. It was pictured at Breighton, June 2007.