At the entrance of the town of Buc (Yvelines), a grounded Mirage III has been restored to its former glory thanks to the selflessness of five aficionados.
The Mirage III R 306, donated by Dassault Aviation in the early 2000s, is parked in the town of Buc (Yvelines) and is experiencing a second youth, if not a third. The aircraft left the factory lines in 1963, and served in the 03.033 Moselle squadron, then in the 01.033 Belfort squadron until the early 1980s. It then made its way to the Brétigny-sur-Orge flight test center (Essonne), until the mid-1990s.
It saw out its career as a service aircraft before being given to the town of Buc a few years later – after being restored by Secamic, a French company specializing in spare parts and equipment for military aircraft, which is actually based in the very same town. It has since stood “peacefully” 50 meters from the former entrance to Aéroparc Louis-Blériot, facing the statue of the First World War pilot, Jean Casale. Sadly, shortly after having been handed over to the town, the aircraft was repeatedly vandalized, with inappropriate graffiti…
It took several years, a health crisis and successive lockdowns for five enthusiasts to take on its restoration. The result is that, since the spring, this flagship aircraft of the French army and Dassault Aviation has been looking its best in its original colors. A huge thank you to these five dedicated souls!
Mirage III R, visible near the entrance to Aéroparc Louis-Blériot and Avenue Jean Casale, looking towards Les Loges-en-Josas. Buc (Yvelines)
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