Dassault Mirage F2
The Dassault Mirage F2 was a French prototype two-seat ground attack/fighter aircraft, which was designed to serve as a test bed for the SNECMA TF306 turbofan engine. The F2 also influenced the subsequent Dassault Mirage G, a variable geometry design.
| Mirage F2 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | ground attack/fighter |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Dassault Aviation |
| First flight | 12 June 1966 |
| Status | Canceled |
| Number built | 1 |
| Developed from | Mirage III |
| Developed into | Dassault Mirage G |
Design and development
Dassault were tasked in the early 1960s to design a low-altitude intruder that did not have the high approach speeds associated with the delta wing of the Mirage III. Unlike the Mirage III, the F2 had a high-mounted swept wing and horizontal tail surfaces. The prototype powered by a Pratt & Whitney TF30 turbofan first flew on 12 June 1966. It was re-engined with the SNECMA TF306 for the second flight on 29 December 1966.
Two parallel developments were a single-seat Mirage F3 interceptor and a scaled-down and simpler Mirage F1. Eventually the French Air Force chose to develop the French-engined F1, and the F2 did not enter production.[1]
The fuselage and engine from the F2 formed the basis of a variable-geometry variant, the Mirage G.[1]
Specifications (Mirage F2 with TF30)
Data from the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft.[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 17.60 m (57 ft 9 in)
- Wingspan: 10.50 m (34 ft 5 in)
- Height: 5.80 m (19 ft 0 in)
- Empty weight: 9,500 kg (20,944 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 18,000 kg (39,683 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney TF30 turbofan, 89 kN (20,000 lbf) thrust
Performance
- Maximum speed: 2,333 km/h (1,450 mph, 1,260 kn)
- Maximum speed: Mach 2.2
- Service ceiling: 20,000 m (66,000 ft)
Current location
The Mirage F2 is now preserved with DGA Techniques Aeronautiques in Toulouse Balma.
Bibliography
- Buttler, Tony (2015). X-Planes of Europe. II: Military Prototype Aircraft from the Golden Age 1946–1974. Manchester, UK: Hikoki Publications. ISBN 978-1-90210-948-0.
- Carbonel, Jean-Christophe (2016). French Secret Projects. 1: Post War Fighters. Manchester, UK: Crecy Publishing. ISBN 978-1-91080-900-6.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.