The flying qualities and carrier suitability of the mirage 2000 aircraft

The Dassault-Breguet Mirage 2000 is a unique tactical aircraft that combines several advanced design features to reach parity in flying qualities with other modern fighters. The flight control system incorporates "fly-by-wire" to balance a naturally unstable aircraft. The relaxed static stability of the Mirage 2000 enables vast improvements in aircraft maneuverability and agility. F-8 Crusaders and Super Etendards, the current carrier aircraft used by the French Navy are old and nearly obsolete. With fleet introduction of the Dassault-Breguet Rafale still several years away, an interim replacement aircraft is required. An analysis and evaluation of the Mirage 2000's flying qualities and carrier suitability was made to determine its potential as the replacement aircraft. Although the flying qualities were excellent for a modern fighter, the Mirage 2000 in its present design is not carrier suitable. The major problems that would prevent carrier operations are the extremely high nose attitude during landing approach and the neutral longitudinal stick force stability during landing approach. Several minor problems were also identified. Two-dimensional vectored thrust from the exhaust nozzle and a canard mounted on the forward fuselage are recommended to correct the high nose attitude during landing approach. Modifications to the flight control computers are recommended to gain positive static longitudinal stability during landing approach and to decrease the high frequency of the short period mode. Several other recommendations are also presented to improve minor flying quality problems. The Mirage 2000 demonstrated excellent potential to replace the F-8's and Super Etendards aboard French aircraft carriers. Correcting the identified problems as presented should allow successful carrier operations.