Characteristics:

A-4 format, soft cover, 128 pages, 544 pictures in color, 9 in b/w, 1/72 drawings, 15 color profiles, French and English text.

After its first volume dedicated to the mirage F-1, DTU publisher (also REPLIC plastic model magazine) bend this time on the back- bone fighter of the French Air Force, the pure delta design, son of the mirage III. Baptized 2000, certainly not by chance, after the retirement of the Jaguar and the Mirage IV this year, it is the multi role combat jet of the FAF. From the 1978 first flight to the last tiger meet in Turkey in July 2005, you’ll discover this graceful machine appreciated by all pilots who ride it.

The thirteen introduction pages are devoted to the birth, the evolution and the different types. Then the book is divided in several chapters:

Chapter 1 : air defense Mirage 2000C (Chasse= fighter) RDM (Radar Doppler Multifunction), RDI(Radar Doppler à Implusion (29 pages, 100 action pictures +48 walkaround pictures). It covers the front line squadrons, the foreign campaigns, the special liveries, and tiger meets colourful birds (two made by twobobs in 1/48 scale decals from 1/12 Cambresis squad).

Chapter 2 : the trainer  Mirage 2000 B (Biplace = two seaters). In 9 pages you’ll turn around the training delta with 29 action pictures and 12 walkaround pictures.

Chapter 3 : Nuclear Dissuasion Mirage 2000 N (Nuclear).19 pages full of 66 action pictures and 24 walkaround pictures. Due to its main task, this is one of the two versions of the Mirage which stay away from the Press, and close up are here rare and welcome!

Chapter 4 : Tactical strike, Mirage 2000 D (Diversified). The ground attack version of the N, not really known elsewhere than in France is here uncovered.  18 pages,52 action pictures ,30 walkaround.

Chapter 5: Air superiority, Mirage 2000 C-5. This is the most advanced version of the fighter housing the radar RDY. 10 pages, 29 action pictures, 17 walkaround pictures.

Chapter 6: French mirage squadrons. After a France map  which locate the different ABs, each squadron is reviewed with aircraft types, codes, and emblems.

Chapter 7: extra walkaround. In this part you’ll see the seats, the ground logistical equipments, the armament (air-air, air/ground, precision and long range missiles), daily companions of the aircraft (complete and first time published).

Chapter 8 : 1/72  scale drawings of all versions reviewed above, M 2000C/B/N/D, with 7 left/right sides, 2 front, 4 upper/under drawings, on slick version. One page is devoted to external stores to complete the profiles, tanks, missiles, bombs with their pylons.

Chapter 9:  Export mirage. 29 pictures cover the 7 foreign customers( India, Egypt, Peru, Greece, UAE, Taiwan, Quatar).

To end this study, 15 color profiles give you the tones and camouflages of  main aircraft displayed inside.

For summary, I have no effort to tell simply that this volume is the most update research on the French delta Mirage 2000 series. Spotters, historians, and modellers will find easily sharp and high quality documentation, from standard format print to close up details.

Highly recommended.  

Publisher adress :

DTU  Sarl

3 bis rue Casteres

F-92100 CLICHY

France

E-MAIL : dtu.sarl@wanadoo.fr

November 2005

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