[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by flyXwire

Hmmmmm....So what exactly are you disaggreeing about with those pics,FVD.....you got my curiosity peaked!

Unfortunately I can't open Tundra's picture links right now (my work computer won't let me for some reason), but hawkeonevooddoo's desert cammo picture is of the wrong type of Mirage 2000. It's an "N", not a "C", and Ns were not employed in Desert Storm at all (they go to Djibouti and other exotic places on occasion, though, I'm guessing that's where that picture was taken).

Bottom line: a Mirage 2000C is very different from a "D" and from an "N" (number of seats being most obvious difference).

FVD

[flyXwire]

Here's Tundra's pic:

[Kiwi Dave]

Originally Posted by flyXwire

Here's Tundra's pic:

That is the plane but when was the photo taken? I agree with FVD, the picture links are of the wrong aircraft and were taken in 2005 not 1990/1991. The serials on those aircraft dont correspond to the airframes that were deployed to the Gulf. Does no one else have the book "Gulf Air War - Debrief" was put out by World Air Power Journal?

[Kiwi Dave]

At the end of the day, I am happy with the desert scheme HM have produced because I DO have a picture of this plane, 74 5-OP, in the colour scheme HM have used.
However, looking at my records the serial on the gray Mirage 2000 that HM are releasing is not the serial of any of the 17 airframes that I have noted as being deployed.
The serials I have are: 74 5-OP, 39 5-NB, 40 5-OI, 47 5-NC, 45 5-OM, 51 5-OG, 57 5-AJ, 58 5-AK, 59 5-OB, 61 5-OD, 62 5-AL, 63 5-OK, 65 5-NH, 66 5-ON, 70 5-AO, 72 5-NI, 73 5-NM. In training to be an annorak!

[ZS-VAN]

Interesting reading folks. So what's the definitive answer? Desert Camo, right or wrong?

[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by ZS-VAN

Interesting reading folks. So what's the definitive answer? Desert Camo, right or wrong?

If in doubt contact the knowledgeable le French Armée de l'aire!

[FormerViperDriver]

Personally, I don't care much if it's accurate or not, in the sense that I will get the standard blue/grey cammo version only. It's apparently a fact that a few (maybe only one?) Mirage 2000C has been painted in the desert cammo scheme (during Desert Storm or otherwise), but it's definitely not representative of a normal French Air Force model, either now or at any time during that aircraft's service history. I don't mind "one-off" color schemes, but not as my first buy of a new mould (in general).

If HM comes out with a desert cammo UAE version, then I'm in for that one.

FVD

[Kiwi Dave]

Originally Posted by ZS-VAN

Interesting reading folks. So what's the definitive answer? Desert Camo, right or wrong?

The desert camo is right, at least for that particuler aircraft at that time.

[Nockers]

Yea this would be a nice one

DOD PHOTO
A Kuwaiti Mirage 2000C fighter aircraft takes off for an air strike against Iraqi targets in support of Operation Desert Storm.

[Kiwi Dave]

Originally Posted by Nockers

Yea this would be a nice one

DOD PHOTO
A Kuwaiti Mirage 2000C fighter aircraft takes off for an air strike against Iraqi targets in support of Operation Desert Storm.

Sorry, but that is a United Arab Emirates Mirage 2000EAD taking off during Desert Storm, but on an air defence mission, not a strike mission. Actually, I think it has a recce pod, so it is a Mirage 2000RAD and the photo was probably not taken during Desert Storm. Just had a look in my book and I have the very same photo, so I guess it was taken during Desert Storm. Kuwait doesn't operate the Mirage 2000.