Dassault Mirage G - a series of three experimental aircraft of the French aircraft corporation Dassault . The technology for creating combat aircraft with a variable sweep wing was worked out at all. In total, one prototype Mirage III G, Mirage G4 and G8 was built.
| Mirage g | |
|---|---|
 Mirage G8 | |
| Type of | fighter |
| Developer |  Dassault aviation |
| Manufacturer | Dassault aviation |
| First flight | May 10, 1971 |
| Status | the program is closed |
| Units produced | 3 (prototypes) |
| Base model | Mirage F2 |
Content
Creation History
Since the second half of the 60s, to increase the tactical and technical characteristics of combat aircraft, the world's leading aircraft manufacturers have come to the conclusion that it is necessary to create aircraft with a variable sweep wing. Such a design made it possible to simultaneously reduce the take-off run and mileage during take-off and landing (a larger sweep angle) and increase the flight speed (a smaller sweep angle). For example, the Soviet MiG-23 , Su-17 , Su-24 , Tu-22M and Tu-160 , the American F-111 , B-1 were equipped with a variable sweep wing.
Modifications
Mirage III G. In 1964, the Dassault Company was commissioned by the French Air Force to create an aircraft with variable wing sweep. The Mirage F2 aircraft, equipped with the TF 306 jet engine manufactured by the American company Pratt & Whitney, was taken as the basis. Around the same time, the French company SNECMA was preparing to begin licensed production of these engines.
The assembly of the first prototype of the new aircraft began in January 1966 . The first flight of the Mirage III G took place on November 18, 1966 with the wing blocked at an angle of 20 Β°. Three weeks later, after several successful test flights, the aircraft managed to exceed the double speed of sound . In October 1969, the aircraft was transferred to the Flight Test Center of the French Ministry of Defense.
Mirage G4 In the late 60s, the French Air Force needed a new aircraft for reconnaissance and electronic warfare . According to the plans of the command, the promising aircraft was supposed to have the possibility of a long flight, a crew of 2 people and was equipped with SNECMA Atar 9K50 engines (RAGEL program). It was also assumed that the new aircraft would become a carrier of nuclear weapons , as well as the use of conventional weapons as an alternative. Under this concept, 2 Mirage G4 prototypes were developed, but the limited budget did not allow launching the aircraft in a series. Calculations showed that the plane turned out to be too expensive and it would not work with the allocated funds to build the planned 60 units. This led to the closure of the project at the end of 1968.
Mirage G8 . After the closure of the Mirage G4 program, the French Air Force once again changed the terms of reference. The developers were ordered a single interceptor , which should be equipped with two SNECMA M53 engines. The first prototype Mirage G8 01 [1] , created on the basis of the Mirage G4, made its first flight on May 8, 1971 [2] . The number of seats for pilots after the upgrade did not change and remained equal to two. The second prototype was also redone from the Mirage G4, but it was designed for one pilot, equipment was placed on the site of the second. The prototype, designated Mirage G8 02, first flew into the sky on July 13, 1972 [2] . This aircraft was equipped in accordance with the requirements of the customer [2] . Both prototypes received SNECMA Atar 9K50 engines.
On July 13, 1972, test pilot Jean-Marie Sage set a speed record for airplanes developed in Europe (with the exception of Russia ) that was not beaten for 2012 on the Mirage G8. At an altitude of 12,800 meters, he developed a speed of 2.34 the speed of sound.
Program End
Not a single aircraft was launched into the series. The main reasons were the high cost and technical complexity. The loss of the first prototype was also affected on January 13, 1971 due to the failure of the rotary wing mechanism [2] .
Mirage G-series made more than several hundred flights, as confirmed by observers from the United States. Mirage G8 01 was transferred to the Combat Center of the French Air Force in October 1972, where it completed more than 200 flights under the test program for compliance with customer requirements. Mirage G8 02 made a total of 125 flights. The latter took place on November 22, 1974. Both copies are exhibited at museums - Mirage G8 01 In Bordeaux , Mirage G8 02 at the European Aviation Museum in Montelimar .
Machines close in purpose and characteristics
- MiG-23
- General Dynamics F-111
Literature
- β French Mirage G8 aircraft , journal Foreign Military Review , No. 8 1975
- β 1 2 3 4 Robert J. Roux, Les Avions militaires du monde, vol. 1, Paris, Γditions LariviΓ¨re, coll. Docavia, 1974, 52 p.
Links
- Le Mirage G sur le site de Dassault
- The Variable Geometry Mirages - citation d'un article sur le forum de FuturaSciences.com