Dassault M.D.550 Mirage I

Initially known as the Mystere-Delta, the MD 550 was designed to meet the requirements of a 1954 specification calling for a small all-weather interceptor fighter capable of attaining an altitude of 18,000m within six minutes and sustaining a speed in excess of M=1.0 in level flight. Competing with the Mystere-Delta were the SE.212 Durandal and the SO.9000 Trident. Powered by two MD 30R (Armstrong Siddeley) Viper turbojets each rated at 980kg with afterburning supplemented by a 1500kg thrust SEPR 66 bi-fuel rocket motor, the Mystere- Delta flew for the first time (without afterburning and auxiliary rocket motor) on 25 June 1955. With the original delta vertical tail replaced by swept back surfaces and the SEPR 66 rocket installed, the MD 550 was renamed Mirage I, and, on 17 December 1956, attained M=1.3 in level flight without rocket power and M=1.6 with the rocket lit. Intended armament comprised a single Matra or Nord AAM carried externally. However, it was concluded that the Mirage I was too small to carry an effective military load, and a slightly enlarged version, the Mirage II with a pair of Turbomeca Gabizo turbojets, was proposed. This proposal was eventually discarded in favour of the more ambitious Mirage III.

3-View

A three-view drawing (1673 x 1215)