Dassault Mystère IV
Dassault Aviation · France · first flew 1951 · fighter
The Dassault Mystère IV is a French transonic swept-wing fighter that served as France's primary air-superiority aircraft of the late 1950s, and in Israeli hands proved highly effective against Egyptian MiG-15s in the 1956 Suez conflict.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Very clean aerodynamic lines and well-faired fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- French swept-wing fighter with oval nose intake
- Very clean aerodynamic lines and well-faired fuselage
- Saw combat with the Israeli Air Force in the 1956 Sinai campaign
A clean oval-nosed swept-wing fighter resembling a refined F-86 Sabre in general outline; the French aircraft has a more pointed nose than the Sabre and a slightly more tapered wing.
Specifications
- The Dassault Mystère IV has a length of 12.98 m (43 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.12 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1120 km/h (696 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Derived from the earlier Mystère II, the Mystère IVA was the principal production variant, first flown in September 1952 and entering service with France in 1954. Israel acquired 60 Mystère IVAs and used them decisively in 1956. India also operated the type, using it in the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistani wars.
Variants
The Mystère IIA and IIB were earlier swept-wing iterations; the Mystère IVA was the main production version; the Mystère IVB was an experimental variant. The Super Mystère B2 was a separate supersonic development.
Where you'll see it
France, Israel, and India operated the Mystère IV; all have retired the type. Israel retired its last examples in the 1970s; India in the 1970s.
Related aircraft
- Dassault MD 454 Mystère IV
- Dassault MD 450 Ouragan
- Dassault MD 315 Flamant
- Dassault Super Mystère
- Avia S-102
- Bell X-5
- de Havilland Sea Venom
- de Havilland Sea Vixen
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.