MIRAGE III O.COLOURS& MARKINGS IN RAAF SERVICE. This item is unavailable.MIRAGE III O.COLOURS& MARKINGS IN RAAF SERVICE

The Dassault Mirage IIIO was the RAAF's first supersonic combat aircraft, and served as its front-line fighter for over 20 years. During that time it wore a great many colour schemes, official and unofficial, and was adorned with many unit and individual markings. For the first time, the evolution and details of all these colour schemes and markings is described and illustrated. The colours of this elegant aircraft changed with its roles and the changes in official thinking with regard to camouflage; the RAAF sense of humour also added some striking and unusual markings to Mirages over the years! The authors have researched this topic in great depth, helped by access to official and private photographic collections and the memories of Mirage pilots and ground crew. The manufacturers, Dassault, have also helped with information and photos of the very first Australian Mirages. Many of the original photographs are being published in this book for the very first time. Essential reading for aviation enthusiasts and scale aero-modellers.

The late Paul Mason was an Aircraft Life Support Fitter in the RAAF. He served over 15 years in the Air force. Paul's passion for the Mirage started the day he first saw one fly over his house as a kid in the '60s. That interest stayed with him throughout his school years and into adult hood. Unfortunately he joined the RAAF too late to be able to work on them (unless you count packing them off to Pakistan) but did, at least, have the pleasure of seeing them perform at many an airshow over the years. Paul had also been an avid collector of all things 'Mirage' and his impressive collection included everything from photographs, publications and documents to an authentic ejection seat. In his spare time he was a keen modeller and aviation photographer and was also well known in the RAAF for his airbrush artwork. Co-author Darren Mottram joined the RAAF as an Instrument Fitter and spent 14 years working on Boeing 707s, Hercules and Macchis before leaving the RAAF as an Avionics Technician and joining BAE Systems, where he helps provide service and support for the RAAF's Hawk 127 Lead-In-Fighter. Darren was introduced to the Mirage at an early age when his late father, also an instrument fitter in the RAAF, would take him to work and let him crawl all over them and watch them tearing up the skies. Joining the RAAF just too late to be able to work on the Mirage, he was fortunate enough to be able to see some of the last public appearances of the graceful jet at the Bicentennial Airshow whilst he was based at Richmond. Also a keen modeller, he designed the special and commemorative paint schemes which have appeared on 76 SQN Macchis and Hawks. Illustrator Juanita Franzl is undoubtedly the best Australian aviation artist currently active, and her work has appeared in books and magazines world-wide. She has a well-deserved reputation for precision and accuracy in all her work.