Mirage III

Blackbird Pilot recalls when his RSO ‘gave the birdie’ to a French Air Force Mirage III pilot (Then They lit their SR-71’s Afterburners and Outran him)

Blackbird Pilot recalls when his RSO ‘gave the birdie’ to a French Air Force Mirage III pilot (Then They lit their SR-71’s Afterburners and Outran him)

‘My RSO had given him “the bird” with his middle finger: I lit the afterburners and left that Mirage standing… Read More

6 months ago

Final flight for Swiss Mirage IIIDS HB-RDF, the only privately-operated Mirage IIIDS in the world

Besides displaying at airshows Mirage IIIDS HB-RDF was also available for passenger flights for the members of Espace Passion association… Read More

6 months ago

The story of the IAF Skyhawk pilot who shot down two Syrian MiG-17s flying an A-4 fitted with French-designed and Israeli-manufactured 30 mm DEFA Cannon

Dotan squeezed the trigger and fired a long burst into the jet's right wing root. The wing was quickly ripped… Read More

7 months ago

The story of the French Air Force Mirage III that buzzed a U-2 flying at 65,000 ft on a mission to spy on France’s nuclear facilities

Equipped with the SEPR 841 rocket booster, the Mirage III literally soared into the skies, though not with the aim… Read More

1 year ago

SR-71 Pilot tells the story of when his RSO Flipped Off a French Air Force Mirage III Pilot (Then They lit their Blackbird’s Afterburners and Outran him)

One of the most entertaining stories about flying the SR-71 Blackbird comes from Lt. Colonel Jim Wilson who shares about… Read More

1 year ago

The crazy story of the Iraqi Tu-16 bomber that used its defensive barbettes to strafe Ramat David Israeli Air Force Base during the Six-Day War

Still pursued by the two Mirages, the Tupolev thundered low over the Israeli air base, making a right turn that… Read More

2 years ago

The story of the SR-71 Blackbird crew that ‘gave the birdie’ to a French Air Force Mirage III pilot, lit the afterburners and outran him

‘I looked out the left window and saw a French Mirage III sitting ten feet off my left wing. He… Read More

2 years ago

The story behind the gun-camera sequences featuring Syrian MiG-21s shot down by Israeli Mirage IIIs

Al-Masry’s jet was then hit by 30mm cannon fire from one of Mirages and exploded, killing the pilot. It was… Read More

2 years ago

Israeli Mirage IIIs and Israeli F-4 Phantom IIs Vs Soviet MiG-21s: the day Israeli fighters ambushed Soviet Fishbeds over the Suez Canal

With everything in place, the front 4 Mirages turned around and thus the 12 Israelis sandwiched the 4 Soviet MiG-21s…… Read More

2 years ago

The story of when Ayrton Senna Formula 1 Champion flew aboard FAB Mirage III and RAAF F-111

The interesting photos in this post feature Ayrton Senna three-time Formula 1 Champion in the cockpit of a FAB Mirage… Read More

2 years ago

Yugoslavia chose the MiG-21 over the Mirage III but the conversion to the Fishbed was plagued by problems

A study by the RV i PVO concluded that, `MiG-pilots are not capable of interceptor-operations at speeds above Mach 1.3.'… Read More

3 years ago

That time a French Mirage III unintentionally buzzed (and scared) a U-2 flying at 65,000ft during a mission aimed to monitor France’s nuclear facilities

After climbing to an altitude of 45,000ft (13,716m), the French pilot engaged his SEPR booster, which accelerated his Mirage to… Read More

3 years ago

Meet the Fairey Delta 2, the British supersonic research aircraft that led to the development of the French Dassault Mirage III

The Delta 2 would surprise everyone - including Fairey itself — by breaking the absolute World Speed Record by a… Read More

3 years ago

The day KGB tried and failed to steal a Lebanese Mirage

Only months after the delivery of Mirage IIIELs to Lebanon, an unusual diplomatic incident took place. The Dassault Mirage III… Read More

3 years ago

The True Story Behind Israeli Nesher Fighter, the Mirage 5 Built by Rockwell (and Not by IAI)

The 51 Mirage 5Js and 10 Mirage 5DDs were delivered to Israel on board of USAF's C-141 Starlifter transports, in… Read More

4 years ago

Ambush! How IAF F-4s and Mirage IIIs acting as Reconnaissance Aircraft Lured into Combat Egyptian MiGs

With a mixed formation of F-4s leading and Mirage IIIs trailing, the two-seat fighter bombers, with their powerful radar system… Read More

4 years ago

Argentina Selects KAI FA-50 as Interim Fighter

A senior FAA officer with direct knowledge of the planned procurement said he expects the government to sign off on… Read More

4 years ago