When I say “on” the N7 I mean on a roundabout just south of Orange airfield in southern France. I just happened to be passing yesterday and there it was, beautifully clean and tidy, and pointing skyward. I found a newspaper report that is was unveiled last year. Apparently a Mirage III, coded 5-OM. I could not stop to photograph it, but I found some photos on the web, and an indication that it is really a Mirage 5, ex BA-10 of the Belgian Air Force.
Can anyone confirm that? Thanks
By: l.garey - 24th October 2011 at 15:53
I learned through this French site the difference between a Mirage III and 5BA: the 5 has 2 pitots above the nose, while the III has them below!
Does anyone know where the REAL Mirage III No 84 is? Was it indeed 5-OM? According to scramble.nl there was a IIIC No 84, 2-EN, written off 12/1/65, so is the adopted identity of the Orange Mirage invented?
By: l.garey - 24th October 2011 at 12:31
So that’s why the Greeks are bankrupt. I like a clean aeroplane, but that is taking it too far.
By: TonyT - 24th October 2011 at 12:00
Cool, BTW the Greek Air Force offer a “Drive through” wash service for Mirages….
Deep soak phase
Windscreen cleaning service and internal valeting
Rinse service
😀
Checking the oil for you
Sorry, it is naughty, but i couldn’t resist……….
By: l.garey - 23rd October 2011 at 17:06
Thanks wieesso. I had found that site, then lost it during my travels. Now I am back home I found it again through you.
It might be of interest to illustrate this Mirage hybrid. I attach a photo thanks to “walken88” on that site. I hope it is OK to post it here.
It is a rather dramatic sight to see this Mirage in the distance, then have to drive round it. In really nice shape too. But it has stimulated the local population to complain it was too expensive, and that, as they have to suffer the noise of the Rafales overhead from Orange, it adds insult to injury etc.
By: wieesso - 22nd October 2011 at 18:23
According to scramble.nl
BA-10 Mirage 5BA c/n 10 – to France (not more, sorry!)
Here is a post stating
http://pics-aeronef.discutfree.com/t5503p50-rond-point-orange-sud
BA10 SAGEM. Transformé en Mirage IIIC et mis en pot de fleur à Orange-sud. Codé 5-OM !!!
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October 22, 2011 at 4:36 pm