Mirage Aircraft for Flight Simulator

FS Aircraft Preview

Dassault Mirage III/5
by Mark Harper

(Previewed October 2007)

It has been a couple of years since a new, from the ground up, Mirage has been released. Mark Harper, modeler and texture artist, will soon be releasing, through Skysim, a Mirage set based around the Mirage IIIE airframe. I've been involved with this project since discussions first took place at the beginning of the year. Several others are involved as well and as you can tell from these first images below and others I will add as it progresses, it is a true labor of love.

When Mark first asked what Mirage he should consider making I suggested the IIIE. Using that airframe as a starting point he would be able to make all of the versions that grew from it including the reconnaissance versions and the Mirage 5 series -- and everything that evolved from that.

Proposed versions include:

Two IIIE (EC 3/2 "Alsace" (above) and EC 2/4 "La Fayette")

RAAF IIIO (top)

Mirage 5F EC 3/13 "Auvergne" (below)

IAI Nesher S (right)

and a couple undecided IIIR/RD operators.

Several external loads are planned as well. So far in the beta copies Mark has sent I have seen 500 litre supersonic tanks (both bolted on and finned jettisonable style), 1700 litre tanks, RPK-10 fuel/weapon carriers, Matra Magics (both live and practice), and an AN-52 nuclear device.

The cockpit is getting a similar amount of attention and versions for the principal models -- Mirage IIIE (shown here), Mirage 5, and Mirage IIIR -- will be included. Every operator's local modification cannot be reproduced but these will be excellent representations and quite convincing.

Just a quick update. Work continues to make the aircraft set fully compatible with FSX as well as FS9. Mark has "narrowed" the included aircraft down (as of mid November) to the following:

Mirage IIIE of EC 3/2 "Alsace" with 500 litre tanks and Matra Magics

Mirage IIIE of EC 3/2 "Alsace" with 500 litre tanks

Mirage IIIE of EC 2/4 "La Fayette" with 1700 litre tanks, nuclear bomb and ECM pod

Mirage IIIO of RAAF 75 Sqn with with finned 500 litre tanks and Matra Magics

Mirage IIIO of RAAF 75 Sqn with with 500 litre tanks and Sidewinders

Mirage 5SDE (Egypt) with 500 litre tanks and Sidewinders

Mirage 5F of 3/13 "Auvergne" with 500 litre tanks and bombs

Mirage 5F with 1700 litre tanks

IAI Nesher with with finned 500 litre tanks and Sidewinders

Mirage IIIRD of CEAM with 500 litre tanks

Mirage 5BR (Belgium) with 1700 litre tanks

Each sub-type; Mirage IIIE, Mirage 5, and Mirage IIIR will have an accurate instrument panel unique to that model. Here are some additional images.