Mirage F1 CT/CR 1/48 plastic model aircraft

Dassault Mirage F.1: The Iconic French Multi-Role Fighter, Successor to the Mirage III / V

The Dassault Mirage F.1 is a French single-engine, single-seat fighter aircraft designed for multiple roles, including interception, ground attack, and reconnaissance. It was developed as a successor to the highly successful Mirage III and V series. The prototype's maiden flight took place on December 23, 1966.

With its swept high-mounted wings equipped with leading-edge slats and flaps, the Mirage F.1 offered superior maneuverability. It achieved impressive records: Mach 2.12 at 11,000 meters altitude and 1,300 km/h at low altitude. Thanks to integral fuel tanks, it carried 40% more fuel than the Mirage III, significantly increasing its range.

Designed for rapid deployment, the Mirage F.1 featured:

• A 15-minute turnaround time between missions

• Refueling in just 6 minutes via a high-pressure system

• Operation from short runways of 500 to 800 meters

• A Thomson-CSF Cyrano IV radar with 80% greater range than the Mirage III's Cyrano II, capable of automatic target tracking

Several main variants of the Mirage F.1 were developed:

• F.1C (classic air superiority and ground attack version, operational since 1969)

• F.1B (two-seat trainer version, delivered from 1980)

• F.1CT (dedicated ground attack aircraft, first flown in 1991)

In total, around 770 units were produced and exported to numerous countries, including Iraq, South Africa, Greece, Spain, and Morocco.

Technical Specifications (Mirage F.1C):

• Length: 15.23 m

• Wingspan: 8.40 m

• Height: 4.50 m

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.2

• Climb rate: 213 m/s

• Maximum range (with external fuel tanks): 3,300 km

• Service ceiling: 20,000 m

• Armament: 2 x 30 mm DEFA 553 cannons + up to 4,000 kg of external stores (missiles, bombs)

The Mirage F.1 remains a benchmark among second-generation fighters, renowned for its reliability, versatility, and combat effectiveness.