Visible and near-visible sensors, which have been widely used in the beginning of the period of interest, have been later overshadowed by the availability of sensors using the microwave part of the spectrum. However, the latter years of this period have shown an obvious come-back with numerous experiments flown with new generation equipment. This paper describes briefly the first generation sensors and how they were used in airborne experiments, explains the developments being conducted from mechanical to push-broom scanners and to non-scanning sensors, shows how some sensors were being integrated in comprehensive systems and what is the trend found in the later years of the period of reference. This is illustrated by examples of existing equipment in France and in Europe, and two case studies: one on the Dutch CAESAR push-broom scanner, the other on the Oceanographic Lidar System developed by the University of Oldenburg in Germany.