GOVERNMENT AIRCRAFT FACTORIES
GAF Mirage IIIO A3-45
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With the CA-27 Sabre coming to the end of its service life in 1960, the Australian Government announced that the RAAF would receive the Dassault Mirage III0, the first truly supersonic fighter aircraft that the RAAF would operate. It was to be built in Australia under license in a work share agreement between the GAF and the CAC.
The GAF were to produce the fuselage and undertake the final assembly of each aircraft. The CAC would produce the rest of the airframe including the control surfaces plus the Atar 9c engine.
98 Mirage 1110 aircraft were produced, 48 Interceptor 111(F) and 50 Ground Attack 111(A). The first aircraft was delivered in 1963 and the last in 1968. A later order for 16 " lead in" dual seat trainers 1110(D) were assembled by the GAF between 1966 and 1974 from Dassault built components and parts imported from France.
The Mirage served Squadron Nos 3, 75, 76, 77, and 79, being retired in 1988 having served for longer than any other RAAF fighter aircraft. Accidents destroyed 42 aircraft and of the remainder, 50 were sold to Pakistan.
The Museum's Mirage A3-45 was delivered to No 81 Wing on September 1 1966, then went on charge to No 76 Squadron on December 18 1966. Transferred to No 2 Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) on February 14 1972 and served Nos 3, 75, 76, 77 and 79 Squadrons until coming off RAAF charge on September 30 1986. It was then transferred to the GAF, later displayed at their Museum before going to storage at Avalon from where our Museum acquired it in 1993.
TECHNICAL DATA
Power plant : 1 x 9,440lbs dry (13,700lbs) on after burner.
Length : 49'04'' (15.03m) Wingspan : 27'00'' (8.22m) Height : 14'09'' (4.5m)
Weights : empty - 15,543lbs (7,050kg) maximum - 30,203lbs (13,700kg)
Speeds : maximum - Mach 2.2 (1,270kt) (1,460mph) (2,350km/hr) @ 39,000ft (12,000m)
Range (Ferry) : 2,072 miles ( 3,335km)
Armament : 2 x 30mm DEFA 552 cannon and other assorted weaponry.
The GAF were to produce the fuselage and undertake the final assembly of each aircraft. The CAC would produce the rest of the airframe including the control surfaces plus the Atar 9c engine.
98 Mirage 1110 aircraft were produced, 48 Interceptor 111(F) and 50 Ground Attack 111(A). The first aircraft was delivered in 1963 and the last in 1968. A later order for 16 " lead in" dual seat trainers 1110(D) were assembled by the GAF between 1966 and 1974 from Dassault built components and parts imported from France.
The Mirage served Squadron Nos 3, 75, 76, 77, and 79, being retired in 1988 having served for longer than any other RAAF fighter aircraft. Accidents destroyed 42 aircraft and of the remainder, 50 were sold to Pakistan.
The Museum's Mirage A3-45 was delivered to No 81 Wing on September 1 1966, then went on charge to No 76 Squadron on December 18 1966. Transferred to No 2 Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) on February 14 1972 and served Nos 3, 75, 76, 77 and 79 Squadrons until coming off RAAF charge on September 30 1986. It was then transferred to the GAF, later displayed at their Museum before going to storage at Avalon from where our Museum acquired it in 1993.
TECHNICAL DATA
Power plant : 1 x 9,440lbs dry (13,700lbs) on after burner.
Length : 49'04'' (15.03m) Wingspan : 27'00'' (8.22m) Height : 14'09'' (4.5m)
Weights : empty - 15,543lbs (7,050kg) maximum - 30,203lbs (13,700kg)
Speeds : maximum - Mach 2.2 (1,270kt) (1,460mph) (2,350km/hr) @ 39,000ft (12,000m)
Range (Ferry) : 2,072 miles ( 3,335km)
Armament : 2 x 30mm DEFA 552 cannon and other assorted weaponry.