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
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