Dassault Mirage III A3-92

Selected to replace the Avon Sabre as the RAAF's fighter aircraft in 1960, the Mirage was the first aircraft in RAAF service capable of flying at twice the speed of sound. Entering operational service during 1965, the Mirage served as the front-line fighter until 1988, making the aircraft the longest-serving fighter in RAAF history. Built under licence in Australia by the Government Aircraft Factories (GAF), 100 single-seat and 16 two-seat Mirages were operated by seven RAAF units.

The first Australian-assembled Mirage flew at Avalon airfield in March 1963, and this and the following 48 aircraft were built as Mirage IIIO(F) interceptors. Following aircraft A3-50, production switched to the Mirage IIIO(A) ground attack aircraft with slightly different equipment for this role. In June 1969, the IIIO(F) aircraft were modified to the ground attack standard, to increase commonality within the Mirage fleet.

In RAAF service, the Mirage operated with Nos 3, 75, 76, 77 and 79 Squadrons, as well as No 2 Operational Conversion Unit and the Aircraft Research and Development Unit, from bases across Australia and also at Butterworth in Malaysia. With the acquisition of the F/A-18 Hornet in 1985, the Mirage was phased out of service, and in October 1988 the last Mirages of No 75 Squadron were ferried to Woomera for eventual disposal.

After the cessation of Mirage operations, a number of aircraft were retained by the RAAF as training aids. This aircraft, A3-92, was one such aircraft and was used at the RAAF School of Technical Training at Wagga Wagga before transfer to the RAAF Museum for preservation.

Delivered from the GAF airfield at Avalon, Victoria, on 26 July 1968, A3-92 served with Nos 3 and 79 Squadrons at Butterworth, Malaysia, and No 77 Squadron at Williamtown, New South Wales. Withdrawn from service in May 1987, the total airframe time for the aircraft was 4037 hours.

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Mirage Data Sheet