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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