Dassault MD 454 Mystère IV
Dassault Aviation · France · first flew 1952 · fighter
The Dassault Mystère IV was a French swept-wing jet fighter that represented a major step forward in French aviation, becoming the first western European aircraft to exceed Mach 1 in level flight.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Small horizontal tail positioned low on rear fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- French swept-wing subsonic jet fighter of the 1950s
- Single nose intake with oval lip
- Small horizontal tail positioned low on rear fuselage
A compact swept-wing jet with a nose intake and low-set tail; more refined and slightly larger than the Mystère II, and identifiable by its oval intake and clean fuselage lines.
Specifications
- The Dassault MD 454 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
Evolved from the earlier Mystère II, the Mystère IVA entered service with the Armée de l'Air in 1955 and was also supplied to Israel and India under US offshore procurement. It saw combat during the 1956 Suez Crisis with both the French and Israeli air forces.
Variants
The Mystère IVA was the main production variant; the IVB with an afterburner was developed but not produced in quantity.
Where you'll see it
Served with France, Israel, and India; Indian examples remained operational into the 1970s.
Related aircraft
- Dassault Mystère IV
- Dassault MD 450 Ouragan
- Dassault Super Mystère
- Dassault Etendard IV
- Beriev R-1
- Canadair Sabre Mk 4
- Fouga CM.170 Magister
- North American F-86F Sabre
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.