From The Archives: Paving The Way For Eurofighter - 40 Years Ago In Aviation Week

The cover of Aviation Week & Space Technology’s Sept. 1, 1986, issue showed the British Aerospace Experimental Aircraft Program (EAP) technology demonstrator aircraft conducting its first flight, with Dave Eagles, executive director of flight operations at British Aerospace's development center in Warton, England, at the controls. 

The demonstrator reached a speed of Mach 1.1 during the flight. Designed to reduce risk and develop technologies for future European combat aircraft, the program was later credited by the British House of Commons Accounts Committee with shortening the development of the Eurofighter Typhoon by a year. British Aerospace photo by Gerry Peet.

See the cover image and read the full issue dated September 1 1986 | Aviation Week