December 30, 2007 at 6:39 am
I have just been reading up on the Australian – RAAF purchase of the Dassault Mirage III
I read that Dassault had a Mirage III fitted with a Rolls-Royce Avon 67 engine with thrust of 71.1 kN (16,000 lb) as a test model for Australian evaluation team (as the Australians had put so much time and effort to fit its derivative of the F-86 Sabre – the CA-27 Sabre with the RR Avon turbojet!), with the name “Mirage IIIO”. This variant flew in February 1961, but the Avon powerplant was not adopted.
Would this have had larger intakes to feed the Avon engine?
Does anyone have any data / specifications for this one-off Avon Mirage III?
Does anyone have any pictures of this Avon Mirage IIIO?
I think this was a lost opportunity by Australia (CAC) and the RAAF (and some what Dassault), for this could have been the Kfir C-2 before its time somewhat!
I think Australia could have done well with potential exports of this more powerful and capable Mirage III variant (if one somewhat ignores our crazy arms export laws!!!)
Regards
Pioneer