Dassault Mirage 2000-01 "Paris Air Show" (1:72)

The Dassault Mirage 2000 was developed as an alternative to what was proving to be a very expensive swing-wing and as a replacement for the Mirage III and F1. It may have replaced these planes but the Mirage 2000 used the same delta wing design as its predecessors. By basing the new aircraft heavily on the Mirage III Dassault was able to have a flyable version in only 27 months. There were four single-seat prototype aircraft built including the initial Mirage 2000-01 that was first flown by test pilot Jean Coreau on March 10, 1978. That same summer at the Farnborough Air Show the Mirage 2000 put on a very
impressive display and demonstrated the new computer control system that overcame the usual pitfalls of
a delta wing.

The F1 may have lost out to the F-16 Fighting Falcon to become the main fighter for Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark and Norway but now the Mirage 2000 was becoming a viable option. The first flight of the Mirage 2000B took place in 1980 with the first production model Mirage 2000C flown on November 20, 1982. The Mirage 2000C interceptor was the first version to enter operational service in 1984. 1984 was also the 50th anniversary of the French Air Force that eventually took possession of 124 Mirage 2000Cs. The prototype is located at Paris Le Bourget Airport.

Specifications

Wing Span..................................................................29.9 ft
Length...............................................................47 ft
Combat weight..................................................21,000 lbs.
Maximum thrust of the SNECMA M53-P2............98 kN
Two versions.................................................single and twin-seater
Internal weapons (single-seater)......................2 * 30 mm guns
Store stations....................................................9
Maximum take off weight...................................38,500 lbs.
Fixed (removable) probe for in-flight refuelling..Buddy-Buddy capability
Maximum Mach number......................................Mach 2.2+
Approach speed.................................................140 Kts
Maximum climbing speed....................................60,000 ft/min
Time to climb to 36,000 ft/Mach1.8.....................5 min
Operational ceiling..............................................55,000 ft
Loiter time at 150 N.M. from the base at Mach 0.8/25,000 ft*: 2hr 40 min
Range / combat at M 0.8/15,000 ft**: 830 N.M.
Turn Around Time (Refuelling and 6 Air to Air reloading): 15 min
* 3 external tanks + 6 MICA.
** 6 Mica, external tanks dropped prior to combat.
availability in war time (Kosovo): 100%
These specs are from the Dassault Aviation site.