Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet A
The Alpha Jet is a combination trainer and light attack aircraft designed by a consortium of French and West German aircraft designers. Design work began in 1968 with the first French aircraft flying in October 1973 followed by the first German aircraft in January 1974. Germany and France bought just over 170 aircraft each. Germany decided to use theirs almost exclusively as light attack fighters, while France adopted them as their advanced jet trainer. The German Luftwaffe operated Alpha Jets until the late 1990s when most were sold to smaller air forces around the world. Eventually thirteen nations used the Alpha Jet, primarily as trainers.
Wingspan | 29 ft 11 in. |
Length | 43 ft 5 in. |
Height | 13 ft 9 in. |
Weight | 11,023 lbs (loaded) |
Maximum Speed | 621 MPH |
Service Ceiling | 50,000 ft |
Range | 1,738 miles |
Engines | 2 SNECMA/Turbomeca Larzac 04-C6 turbofans with 3,000 pounds of thrust each |
Crew | 2 |
Manufacturers
Dassault-Breguet/Dornier
Markings
German Luftwaffe, Fighter Bomber Group 49 (JaboG49), Fürstenfeldbruck, West Germany, 1980
Serial Number
0049
Designation
Alpha Jet