On May 19, 1967, the Mirage 5 was making its first flight to Melun-Villaroche, piloted by Hervé Leprince-Ringuet.
50 years ago, on May 19, 1967, the Mirage 5 was making its first flight to Melun-Villaroche, piloted by Hervé Leprince-Ringuet.
Derived from the Mirage III, the Mirage 5 is a low-altitude tactical fighter plane. Instead of a radar, its nose cone contains electronic navigation and attack equipment, freeing up space for additional fuel. There are more hardpoints and the booster rocket was removed.
Less expensive and transporting 32% more internal fuel than the Mirage III C, the Mirage 5 can carry up to 14 bombs, not to mention the dozens of load combinations possible in numerous configurations.
With 517 planes produced for 11 countries, the Mirage 5 is a real success, and remains one of Dassault’s most exported fighter planes.