Connies4ever From Canada, joined Feb 2006, 1244 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (1 month 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 1957 times:
Possibly because it was only ever intended as an export aircraft, the French AF not really having a need for it. When the Saudis chose the F-15, the biggest (and soonest) potential market disappeared, so the program was wound up. Shame, really, a very sexy looking beastie.
Ptrjong From Netherlands, joined Mar 2005, 2692 posts, RR: 13 Reply 3, posted (1 month 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 1956 times:
The French Air Force believed in smaller, more affordable fighters (ie the Mirage 2000), so building the 4000 prototype was always an enormous gamble. Producing a fighter aircraft only for export just doesn't happen. Export customers don't want to pay the remaining development costs and are afraid to end up with the only aircraft of the type in the world, which makes maintenance more expensive and difficult.
Peter
The only difference between me and a madman is that I am not mad (Salvador Dali)
EBJ1248650 From United States, joined Jun 2005, 1162 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (1 month 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 1074 times:
Quoting Connies4ever (Reply 1): Possibly because it was only ever intended as an export aircraft, the French AF not really having a need for it. When the Saudis chose the F-15, the biggest (and soonest) potential market disappeared, so the program was wound up. Shame, really, a very sexy looking beastie.
As I understand it, the Saudis helped finance the development of the plane. The French AF found it too expensive. I don't believe size had anything to do with their turning it down. It had incredible capabilities for its time but it was just too expensive for the French to buy in any numbers and though the Saudis had and still have money, they weren't going to buy an airplane the home country wouldn't put into service itself.
Ptrjong From Netherlands, joined Mar 2005, 2692 posts, RR: 13 Reply 6, posted (1 month 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 988 times:
Quoting EBJ1248650 (Reply 5): French AF found it too expensive. I don't believe size had anything to do with their turning it down.
They found it too expensive because it was big (heavy). Cost and size (weight) in an aircraft are related. A fighter twice as big (heavy) tends to be twice as expensive.
Quoting EBJ1248650 (Reply 5): As I understand it, the Saudis helped finance the development of the plane.
I don't think there's evidence for that.
Peter
The only difference between me and a madman is that I am not mad (Salvador Dali)
Sponsor Message: 
From United States, joined May 2001, 941 posts, 
From Canada, joined Feb 2006, 1244 posts, 
From Netherlands, joined Apr 2001, 8523 posts, 
Printer friendly format
