Mirage III manufactured by Marcel Dassault

THE MAKING OF

When one evokes the history of the French Air Force, a particular airplane comes to the mind of enlightened enthusiasts: the Mirage III. Manufactured and designed by the French company Dassault, this aircraft was the first European delta wing fighter aircraft to be able to reach Mach 2 in horizontal flight.

The first flight of the Mirage III took place on the Air Base of Melun-Villaroche, on November 17th, 1956, and was piloted by Roland Glavany. A year later, the prototype reached  Mach 1.8 with a SEPR booster rocket. Engineering teams rivaled each other in ingenuity and allowed the aircraft to significantly increase its speed by modifying the shape of the shock cone's air inlets, allowing them to be mobile, and not fixed as on the original version.

The plane, based on the same body and the same reactor, is mainly available in 4 versions: B (drive version with two pilots), C (interception), E (ground attack in all) and finally R (reconnaissance).

The French Air Force used 457 units of the Mirage III, of which the last ones were retired in 1994. A huge success for its manufacturer Marcel Dassault, and flagship of French technology in the late 50's, it was also sold in more than 10 countries. This single-engine, post-combustion jet has proven its robustness of operation, particularly during aerial combat whilst used by the Israeli Air Force. It was still in active service in the Pakistani air force in 2018

 

 

OUR MIRAGE III-E

This Mirage III-E No. 517 began its long career on December 21, 1966, as part of the Dauphiné 01/004 Fighter Squadron, element of the 4th Fighter Wing based on the BA 116 of Luxeuil-Saint-Sauveur as F-ULAC. It finished its years of service part of training operations for pilots’ disincarceration.

Abandoned under a tree on an Air Force base, its paint washed out after many years spent under the sun and rain, waiting for a rebirth.

Flight Inspiration® replied enthusiastically when it was given the opportunity to save a portion of the aircraft before its final voyage to the foundry for recycling.

 

Avion en vol Mirage fabriqué par Dassault avec ses reservoirs externes
Mirage III flying with its external fuel tanks. Manufactured by Dassault 
 
Détail des différents projets de Porte-Clés Aéro par notre designer Camille de Montmorillon pour le mirage III E
Various projects by our designer Camille de Montmorillon
 
Travail de démontage du fuselage d’un Mirage III E numéro de série 517 pour nos Porte-Clés Aéro
Work of dismantling the fuselage of a Mirage III E No. series 517

 
Deburring work of a craftsman on our Mirage III's forms

 
Blister de nos Porte-Clés Aéro Recto du Mirage III E en édition limitée
Mirage III-E's Aircraft Skin Keychain front display card
 
Blister Verso de nos Porte-Clés Aéro du Mirage III E en édition limitée
Mirage III-E's Aircraft Skin Keychain back display card
 
 
Présentation d’un Porte-Clé Aéro créée a partir d un avion Mirage III E en version peu patine numéro 039 en édition limitée avec son blister
Aircraft Skin Keychain created from a Mirage III-E airplane by Flight Inspiration®
 
Photographie d’ambiance d’un Mirage au refueling sur la base de Tours avec un Porte-Clé Aéro mirage III E série ovale édition limitée numero 024

Mirage III-E Aircraft Skin Keychain oval series No. 024/129 on a photograph of a Mirage refueling on the Military base of Tours.

 

Photographie d’ambiance présente sur un manuel de vol un Porte-Clé Aéro Mirage III E série ovale édition limitée numero 044 très patiné

Mirage III-E Aircraft Skin Keychain. Very patinated oval series No. 044/129
on a Mirage III-E flight manual 

 

Photographie d’ambiance présente contre un bloc moteur Continental en table basse un Porte-Clé Aéro Mirage III E série ovale numero 072
Mirage III E Aircraft Skin Keychain oval series-No. 072/129
 presented against a Continental O-470 engine coffee table
 
Photographie d’ambiance présente sur un sac de transport un Porte-Clé Aéro Mirage III E série ovale numero 065
Mirage III E- Aircraft Skin Keychain oval series-No. 065/129  presented on a piece of luggage

 

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