The MD-450 Ouragan was the first French jet fighter to be used by the French Air Force after World War II. It entered service 70 years ago, in November 1952.
Thanks to this aircraft, Dassault Aviation was able to test, analyze and solve the aerodynamic and flight quality problems posed by the compressibility of air, thus paving the way for subsequent models to break the sound barrier.
The Ouragan prototype made its first flight on February 28, 1949, at Melun-Villaroche, piloted by Constantin Rozanoff.
213 aircraft were delivered to the French Air Force between 1952 and 1954.
The Ouragan was first deployed with the 12th Wing, with the EC 1/12 Cambrésis and 2/12 Picardie squadrons; followed by the 2nd Wing at Dijon (EC 1/2 Cigognes, 2/2 Côte d’Or and 3/2 Alsace squadrons) and the 4th Wing at Bremgarten (EC 1/4 Dauphiné, 2/4 La Fayette and 3/4 Flandres squadrons). The Ouragan was also used at the École d’Aviation de Chasse, initially at Meknes (Morocco) and then at Tours (France), allowing student pilots to train on jet aircraft. Finally, the Patrouille de France flew this aircraft for three years, from 1954 to 1956.
The Ouragan was the first French military aircraft to be exported after the war.
As technology evolved, the Ouragan-Mystère, Mirage and Jaguar family of fighters produced by Dassault Aviation were used by the French Air & Space Force, before the Rafale replaced them in the early 21st century.