This was the first public reveal of the world's first fly-by-wire airliner, in which manual controls had been replaced by a purely electrically signalled control system relying on computers and actuators. In basic TOA Domestic colours, the aircraft wowed the crowds with low power/speed passes suddenly giving way to control inputs that caused the big jetliner to change attitude uncannily fast. Used by General Electric from 1989 to 1996, in 2005 F-BUAD passed to NoveSpace (CNES) for use as a Zero-G trainer. It is now preserved at Cologne, replaced in that role by an ex Luftwaffe A310

Third prototype. First flew as F-WUAD in 1973. Reregistered as F-ODCX in 1975 then back to F-WUAD in 1976 and F-BUAD in 1978. To Novespace/CNES for zero-gravity flights in 1996. Preserved at Cologne from 2014.

The oldest surviving complete Airbus, close to Terminal 2 at CGN. It is not possible to get an unobstructed photo.

A return visit to Farnborough for A300 c/n 003, now with a different registration and new titles.

This, the oldest airworthy A300, is used for parabolic zero gravity flights and is nicknamed the 'vomit comet' The tail artwork is seen here

The third prototype at the Paris Salon. Note the flightline.

Showing its capabilities as Airbus's Fly-by-Wire demonstrator.

Used for ZERO-G flights and meanwhile stored at CGN.