Mirage III A3-16
Ex-RAAF
Mirage III A3-16 was publicly restored in the Museum hangar as a working
demonstration of how to return an old jet to it's former glory.
A3-16 landed wheels up at Tullamarine Airport, Victoria, in Oct 1974
and was converted to components for disposal in 1986. The Mirage airframe
has survived scrapping over the years and was finally acquired by CJFM
in 1992. It was brought to the CJFM hangar in 1996. Despite enormous
difficulties in finding Mirage airframe parts, sufficient components
were gathered to ensure the restoration of this beautiful aircraft.
A3-16 saw service with the Aircraft Research and Development Unit and
is now painted in original RAAF Aircraft Research and Development Unit
colours and markings.
Engine - SNECMA ATAR 9C Axial Flow Turbojet
The Atar 9C axial flow turbojet is a French designed engine and was
built under licence in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation.
In all 192 engines were built and fitted to the RAAF Dassault Mirage
III fighter bombers. The engine featured a nine stage compressor and
an 8 stage stator rated at 9,430 lb thrust at 8,400 rpm. The engines
weighed 3,209 lb.
