Dassault Mirage F2

Mirage F2
Role	Attack fighter
National origin	France
Manufacturer	Dassault Aviation
First flight	12 June 1966
Number built	1
Variants	Dassault Mirage G

The Dassault Mirage F2 was a French prototype two-seat attack fighter which was designed to serve as a test bed for the SNECMA TF306 turbofan engine and influenced the similar variable-geometry 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 Mirage's delta wing. Unlike the earlier 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 choose 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 ^[1]Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft

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 (65,617 ft)

See also

Related development

• Dassault Mirage III
• Dassault Mirage F1
• Dassault Mirage G
  

References

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c} Orbis 1985, p. 1333

Bibliography

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.