Research & Development has always played an important part in the production of aircraft. Numerous prototypes & pre-production aircraft are involved with the creation of any new aircraft & new technologies. R & D aircraft are normally created to study the qualities of new technologies & designs so that engineers can overcome problems & improve the design further. The R & D aircraft included in this section have been instrumental in the production of important aircraft such as the V-Bombers & more recently the Eurofighter Typhoon.