FR0062 Super Mystère B2 Short

History:
After having successfully developped the Ouragan, Mystère II and Mystère IVA, Dassault modified the Mystère IVB and got the Super Mystère B1 (with Avon engine) and B2 (with Atar 101). The SM B2 prototype made her maiden flight on 15 th of May 1956 in Villaroche, piloted by Gérard Muselli. This was the first europeean aircraft (outside USSR) to reach supersonic speed in horizontal flight.

The SM B2 was ordered on 29 th of March, 1955, and was finally produced in 178 units between 1957 and 1959, equipping 5 th, 10 th and 12 th Escadres de Chasse and used by CEAM, school-bases 701 and 721 and CEV (Test Flight Center).

The 10 th EC (Creil) was composed of escadrons 01/10 Valois (specific color: blue) and 02/10 Seine (red). The two escadrilles of 01/10 maintain traditions from WWI, SPA 84 (Fox Head) and SPA 93 (Duck with green neck). Four SM B2 from 01/10, with one lost en route, were involved in the SEATO cruise in February 1961 and finally reach Bangkok. 02/10 keeps traditions from Cercle de Chasse de Paris. The 10 th EC used SM B2 between May 1958 and July 1974.

The 12 th EC in Cambrai was made of escadrons 01/12 Cambrésis (red) and 02/12 Cornouaille (green). 01/12 bears insignas of SPA 162 (Tiger) and SPA 169 Wasp, which led to participations in Tiger Meets and sometimes permitted some spectacular paint jobs. The Cornouaille bears insignas of Brocéliande Dog and Scorpion. The SM B2 was used by the 12 th EC between April 1959 and November 1977.

The 5 th EC based in Orange-Caritat put in service the SM B2 between February 1961 and September 1966. Escadrons 01/05 Vendée (red) and 02/05 Île de France (blue), successor to RAF Sqn 340 were part of the Escadre

Israel ordered 24 SM B2, which were delivered since 1958 and were involved in the Six Days war and later fights.

French aircraft were initially left in natural metal, with a lightning flash on fuselage, tips of wings and sometimes an arrow on the fin in specific escadron color. Three SM B2 coming back from Israel kept the local camouflage, then Dassault started to camouflage nine planes in Vietnam-like colors, and finally some planes were painted in a standard french camouflage.

Specifications: single-seat single-engined fighter and ground attack plane. Engine: SNECMA ATAR 101 G3 delivering 4400 kgp with post-combustion. Wingspan 10.52 m, length 14.13 m, wing area 35 m2. Maximum speed: 1220 km/h, ceiling 14,800 m, mass (empty) 6.956 kg. Internal armament: 2 x 30 mm DEFA 552 guns. External armament: bombs, rockets, 2 x Air-air missiles.

The kit is a reprint of kits FR0035 and FR0036 (sold out), with a 3D printed ladder (French) in addition, with four new decals in replacement of old decals (see below). "Short" because we have here the SMB-2 fitted with ATAR 101 G3 engine, not with the longer P&W US engine, on later Israelis SMB-2.  References: mainly the book (in french) "Super Mystère B2" by Liébert, Moreau, Defever.

Schemes : 

  • Cam A: SM B2 n°127, 12-YK of 01/12 Cambrésis, from June 1959 to July 1967, Cambrai, France. Involved in 1965 Tiger Meet, from  14 th to 17 th September, Bitburg AFB (RFA) and Luxeuil show (3rd of July, 1966).
  • Cam B: SM B2 N°138, 5-OO, 02/05 Ile de France, from June 1961 to April 1962, Orange-Caritat. Accident on the 22 nd of June, 1962 in Orange, bearing the same code.
  • Cam C: SM B2 n°145 10-SR, 01/10 Valois, from June 1970 to May 1974, standard camouflage, Creil. The aircraft bears the badge of italian XII Gruppo, after visiting Gioia Del Colle airbase.
  • Cam D: SM B2 (Sambad) coded 31, shortly after delivery, still retaining the French livery. Sqn 105, Hatzor, Israel, from December 1958 to camouflage (1961)