64 iconic Mirage jet fighters coming to the USA | FerrariChat

64 iconic Mirage jet fighters coming to the USA

Discussion in 'Aviation Chat' started by WilyB, Jul 17, 2017.

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  1. WilyB

    WilyB F1 Rookie
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    #1 WilyB, Jul 17, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
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  2. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    The F1 has the distinction of being the only combat aircraft that served on both sides of the 1991 Gulf war. I don't think that they actually dogfought each other, though.
     
  3. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
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    We aborted into an F1 base at Reims-Champagne back in the 80s. It is a really tiny aircraft, especially compared to our F-111F. You could just about stand flat footed and look into the cockpit. Very pretty, like a lot of French aircraft.

    Funnily enough, they were the same unit that was intercepting us for the Datex air defense exercise.
     
  4. nerofer

    nerofer F1 World Champ

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    The 30è Escadre de Chasse (you would say "30th figther group"), made of three squadrons:
    1/30 "Valois"
    2/30 "Normandie Niemen"
    3/30 "Lorraine".
    About 45 to 50 Mirage F1 in total.

    The 2/30 was the most famous, due to its history in the Soviet Union during World War II. They had numerous exchanges with the Soviet Air Force, even during the cold war.

    Rgds
     
  5. WilyB

    WilyB F1 Rookie
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  6. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Very pretty.
     
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  7. notsofast

    notsofast Karting

    Sep 29, 2009
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    Glad to see such a beautiful aircraft still flying. I’m a bit young to have seen the Mirage fly here in Australia hands but thankfully there’s a few still in museums here to admire including a two seater.
     
  8. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    Will they officially be military or civilian aircraft?
     
  9. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
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    The Australian Mirage IIIs were the delta wing variety. The F1 has a conventional wing/tail layout. See image.

    During Desert Storm, both sides had Mirage F1s in their inventory, so the ones on our side were limited on where they could go and what they could do. Otherwise they turned into F-15 bait.


    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
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  10. Hannibal308

    Hannibal308 F1 Veteran
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    Civie
     
  11. WilyB

    WilyB F1 Rookie
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    Sorry, I should have specified that they are now owned/operated by: http://www.drakenintl.com/
     
  12. nerofer

    nerofer F1 World Champ

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    Australian Mirage were Mirage IIIO, equivalent to the French Mirage IIIE. They were originally, when ordered, supposed to be fitted with Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet, but if the prototype was indeed tested with the "Avon", the associated costs of the adaptation were deemed too high by Australia, which eventually opted for the french ATAR engine. 100 single-seat airplanes ordered, assembled in Australia. A very smal number of two-seaters ordered also.
    (To nitpick, the Australian IIIO single-seaters were actually divided originally in IIIO and IIIOA, pure fighters and fighters-bombers)

    The F1 is the following generation; actually not always considered a better plane than the III by some pilots.

    Rgds
     
  13. tbakowsky

    tbakowsky F1 World Champ
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    Beautiful aircraft..
     

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