If the Mirage with tailnumber ..9 was a -CT version, it could have been 279 which was allready reported as being moved from Chateaudun to SABCA at Gosselies for overhaul. But time will tell!
Erik
How can one tell the difference between a F-1C, CR, and CT? I guess the hump under the nose.
The F.1CR (with the camera bulge under the nose) has light grey undersides and a black nosecone.
The F.1CT (with the differently shaped laser rangefinder under the nose) has wrap-around camouflage and a green nose.
Other clues are the serials on the tail; the CR's are in the 6**-series, the CT's are in the 2**-range.
To complete the identifiers between the types: Mirage F.1B's have blue topsides and light grey undersides, with serials in the 5**-range;
F.1C's lack the in-flight refuelling probe that the F.1C-200 does have. Both the F.1C and F.1C-200 are generally in the blue (top)/grey (bottom) scheme, although occasionally you might find one in a desert scheme of "vanilla/chocolate" or lighter shades of sand and brown. Serials for both are between 1 and 103 for the C and upwards from 201-277 for the C-200. But keep in mind that several of the C-200's have been modified into CT's when in service in France.
Hope this helps identifying some of these beauties "across the pond".
There are some exceptions to the paint-scheme rules mentioned above: towards the end of their operational career, some F.1CR's appeared with a green F.1CT nose; the CT was withdrawn from use some time before the CR. Also, when the CR was withdrawn, the last ones were painted in commemorative schemes, including the blue scheme only carried by F.1C's and F.1C-200's.... but generally accompanied by a special tail so easily recognisable. Two of these were 653 and 660.
+2 unidentified (1 singles and 1 dual). Dual is 507 and single is 654. That leaves one missing airframe if the number identified by ATAC is correct (13 aircraft have arrived at Alliance).
Also 9 tails were seen and 6 aircraft missing tails (2 unk singles) and of the ones identified the only tails without an airframe were 622 and 657. So more tails than airframes have arrived.
Apparently 3 to 8 more F-1's arrived at the AFW facility in 2019. All unidentified. Not sure where they can park them though.
Their hangar on the west of the airport is taking shape rapidly. Perhaps a few more months and they can move all of their toys and start tearing up the pattern.
ATAC should have bought the following 63 aircraft, all are ex Chateaudun storage:
Mirage F1B
502 to N601AX
507 to N602AX
510 to N604AX
512 to N605AX
513 to N606AX
517 to N607AX
519 to N609AX
Mirage F1CR
603 for spares
606 to N613AX, painted as N609AX Oct18
608 for spares
611 to N615AX
612 for spares
613 for spares
616 for spares
620 to N617AX
622 to N619AX
623 for spares
624 for spares
627 for spares
630 for spares
632 to N623AX
635 for spares
638 to N625AX
640 for spares
641 for spares
642 to N629AX
643 for spares
645 for spares
649 to N631AX
650 for spares
653 to N633AX
654 to N635AX
657 to N637AX
658 to N639AX
659 to N641AX
660 to N643AX
662 to N645AX
Mirage F1CT
219 to N610AX
226 to N614AX
227 to N616AX
229 to N618AX
236 for spares
241 to N620AX
242 to N622AX
243 to N624AX
245 to N626AX
246 for spares
248 for spares
251 to N608AX
255 to N628AX
256 for spares
258 for spares
264 for spares
267 to N630AX
268 for spares
273 to N632AX
274 to N634AX
275 to N636AX
278 to N638AX
279 to N642AX
280 to N644AX
281 for spares
283 to N646AX, painted as N602AX Oct18
The civil markings are allocations acc FAA, presume the two early ones are "painting errors"
For the benefit of Mr. Kite, there will be a show tonight on trampoline
Two Mirage F-1’s did high speed taxi runs this week. First flight since their retirement of active duty in France is tentatively scheduled for next week.
First flight, 2nd first flight, or return to flight, whatever you want to call it of Mirage F-1B 502/N601AX as Atac 91, at Alliance AP, TX, today, August 22, 2019.
