Dassault Balzac V
Dassault Aviation · France · first flew 1962 · fighter
The Dassault Balzac V was a French experimental VTOL aircraft that served as a technology demonstrator for the Mirage IIIV supersonic vertical takeoff and landing fighter programme, featuring eight small lift engines embedded in the fuselage alongside a main propulsion engine. It was based on a modified Mirage III airframe.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, delta |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 9 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Multiple lift jets embedded in fuselage for vertical takeoff |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- French VTOL experimental delta-wing research aircraft
- Multiple lift jets embedded in fuselage for vertical takeoff
- Technology demonstrator for the Mirage IIIV programme, with eight lift jets and one cruise engine
Identified by its delta wing and tailless Mirage layout combined with the distinctive rows of lift jet exhaust nozzles on the upper fuselage — unlike any production fighter aircraft.
Specifications
- The Dassault Balzac V has a length of 13.1 m (43 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.3 m (24 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1104 km/h (686 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in conventional flight in October 1962 and achieving its first vertical flight in October 1963, the Balzac V provided vital data for the larger Mirage IIIV programme. The aircraft was destroyed in two separate accidents during testing, killing its pilots.
Variants
Only one Balzac V prototype was built, subsequently rebuilt after the first crash; the lessons learned fed into the Mirage IIIV design.
Where you'll see it
Operated only as an experimental test aircraft by Dassault and French government agencies; never intended for operational service.
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