In the hands of the IDF/AF, the Mirage IIIC became an aviation legend. It is one of the most successful jet fighters of all time and probably is the supersonic fighter with the most MiG kills.
But the Mirage III was not a super-fighter. It was, in fact, a deeply flawed aircraft. Ironing out those issues and forging the Mirage into the Shahak - the sky blazer that tormented Arab air forces for a decade took skill, determination and a touch of good fortune.
In this video I go deep into the ‘short fuselage’ Mirage III, starting with its origins as a bomber interceptor. It’s turned into a bit of an epic, but I hope you enjoy watching it as much as I’ve enjoyed making it.
Main sources:
- I used a number of books in my research, most notably:
- Israeli Mirage And Nesher Aces, by Shlomo Aloni
- From Mirage To Kfir Part 1, by Amos Dor
- Mirage 3 vs MiG-21, also by Shlomo Aloni
- Mirage, by Paul Jackson
- Mirage III/V, published by Aviation Classics
- Dassault Mirage III Variants by John F. Brindley
Notable other sources:
- Cyrano radar background: [ Ссылка ]
- Radar range information: [ Ссылка ]
- Losses in YK War: [ Ссылка ]
