Passion

Book. “Thistle and Mirage 5B”

The Dassault Mirage, a legendary aircraft whose reputation transcends all borders, even those of France’s closest neighbors. The evidence lies in this Belgian book, dedicated to those who have flown the remarkable fighter jet. In two volumes!

The Dassault Mirage, a legendary aircraft whose reputation transcends all borders, even those of France’s closest neighbors. The evidence lies in this Belgian book, dedicated to those who have flown the remarkable fighter jet. In two volumes!

Another tribute to the icon of military aviation that is the Mirage! And this, with the help of the first squadron of the Third Wing of the Belgian Air Force! For this work, a group of enthusiasts have taken on the task of telling the story of the country’s air force and have produced a two-part work on the squadron in question, in particular the period aboard the Mirage – in French and in Flemish, all in landscape format.

To make their mission a success, the authors proceeded in chronological order, and have placed people at the heart of the story. And this is how the story begins, when the F-84 is replaced by the Mirage, and the entire combat unit is transferred from Florennes to Bierset Air Force Base. Everything is covered: events, personnel, summary tables, anecdotes, eyewitness accounts, competitions, exercises, celebrations and more… and that’s just the first volume!

Much of the second volume is focused on commemorations and special decorations that have adorned Dassault aircraft. All this before its replacement in the Belgian Air Force by the F-16, and the return of the squadron to the base at Florennes. Not to mention the chronological tables setting out each pilot’s career in the unit. In short, the whole saga (which stretched from 1971 to 1989) can be found in these two beautiful volumes.

Book. “Thistle and Mirage 5B”. Author: Luc Mercier. Publisher: Mirage 5 Pilots Association.