Mirage F1 projects

[blackkite]

F1 M53.
https://all-andorra.com/snecma-m53/

 

[BLACK_MAMBA]

Hi!
https://www.moddb.com/groups/aircraft-lovers-group/news/report-043-mirage-f1

That F1AZ has an RD-93 in it, not an SMR-95. The SMR used only the inner hot engine nozzle flaps and had a specially designed tailcone incorporating the cold flaps to replace the Atar one. The depicted aircraft is 233 which also never received the new engine.

 

[datafuser]

According to the August 1968 issue of Air Review, a Japanese magazine, the Mirage F1 proposed to Japan in 1968 was supposed to be powered by a J79/J1Q engine.

 

[Archibald]

Make some sense. First (obviously) because of F-104J having it. And the competing Phantom that carried the day.

But there is more. According to Liébert & Buyck landmark book, J79-powered Mirage F1s were being considering the same year, 1968. For the French Navy (from memory) because the Aéronavale had very stringent loiter and climb requirements for an interceptor to replace the Crusaders.
Basic navalized F1 with Atar 9K50 would be hopeless, so they were considering M53-2 (not ready until 1973 at the earliest) - so Spey and J79s were also contenders.
TF306E, as flown at the time on the Mirage F2 and its close sibling the Mirage G, would not fit into a F1.

 

[Pioneer]

I always thought that the proper "F1-M53" design would have been carrier-capable, to replace both the Crusaders and Super Etendards.

Sort of a French "single-engine Hornet".

At minimum, give it an extended nosewheel oleo strut, so as to give it a greater angle of attack on take-off......


Regards
Pioneer

 

[Archibald]

The Etendard IV and S.E used that trick. Naval F1-M53 could certainly do it too.

 

[TomcatViP]

A good interview (extract) to understant why those who flew it, loved it:

View: https://youtu.be/1BPRb77LbkQ

 

[Archibald]

From Airdefense forum I just got confirmation that Morocco modernized Mirage F1s with RDY-3 had MICA missiles.

And thus the F1 was the only Mirage that had Matra R530, Super 530F and MICA: all three generations of french medium range AAMs.

TBH it couldn't fire the Super 530D of the 2000 so not a perfect bull's eye.