Mirage F.1 two volume history

As published by Lela Presse – two superb hardbacks

Lela Presse – Two superb hardbacks devoted to all aspects of the Mirage F.1

Here’s the publishers blurb for Vol II

Volume II of this superb new history of the Mirage F1 covers the type’s operational and service history. Entering French Air Force service in May 1973, the Mirage F1 quickly proved to be clearly superior to its predecessor, carrying up to 40% more fuel, and displayed superior range and better maneuverability. It would serve as the main interceptor of the French Air Force up until the entry into service of the Dassault Mirage 2000. With production successfully underway dedicated variants were proposed by Dassault – all-weather interceptor and tactical reconnaissance variants are covered in depth. Additional chapters cover foreign operators, including for the first time detailed accounts of the Mirage F1 in combat – in 1995, during the Cenepa War, Ecuadorian Mirages went into action against Peru. On 10 February 1995, two Mirage F1JAs, piloted by Maj. R. Banderas and Capt. C. Uzcátegui and armed with Matra R550 Magic AAMs, were directed over five targets crossing the border from Peru toward the Cenepa valley. After making visual contact, the Mirages fired their missiles, shooting down two Peruvian Su-22Ms. During the Iran-Iraq war, Iraq’s Mirage F1EQs were used intensively for interception, ground attack and anti-shipping missions. while Iraqi Mirage F1 EQ-5/6 units clased throughout 1988 with Iranian F-14s. The F1 pilots hunted the Tomcats aggressively and attacked the Iranians at any occasion. The F1EQ-6s were equipped with ECM systems, degrading the effectiveness of the F-14’s AWG-9 radar/fire control system. On 19 July 1988 four Mirages attacked two F-14s and downed both, suffering no losses.
This sumptuous 350-page volume is completed with a super selection of colour images of French aerobatic teams and colour profile artwork by Thierry Dekker and Tom Cooper.
High recommended for fans of modern combat aircraft. French text

Anyone read James Barrington’s new paperback ‘Foxbat’ – looks good !

Not anger against Spanair for the moment, but tought moments will come soon. This will get really nasty.

.. well thanks to that text message we know that there were pax on board who requested to get off after the ‘first’ technical – and weren’t ‘allowed’ to…that I think is criminal …..

(FWIW I’m ex-AF)

.. remember it well; I was an AF employee at the time …the pilot was awarded a custodial sentence for his efforts..

latest from the AAIB .. ‘ a significant amount of fuel leaked from the a/c..’

http://www.aaib.dft.gov.uk/latest_news/accident__heathrow_17_january_2008___initial_report.cfm

The video of its approach on youtube is very interesting to watch, even if it is just a few seconds worth of footage.

..do you have the link Adam..I’ve hunted around but haven’t found the piece you might be referring to….

cheers

It wouldn’t be unusual for BA to give a press conference in my opinion. The captain may be invited to attend and answer certain questions, but it would be unusual for him to host the conference.

….certainly tends to indicate – as does the praise for the co-pilot – that BA & the captain/crew are pretty confident that they or their actions were in no way, shape or form a contributory factor in the incident..

….significant that the APU door is open perhaps…?

…….Jon Sopel on News 24 just pointed out that that is the end the spotters tend to congregate at…should be some good pics