"Mystère IV" sweat

On August 2, 1951, Dassault was awarded a contract for the design and supply of an MD 452 Mystère IV aircraft capable of reaching Mach 1 in nose-down flight, but no series production was envisaged.

The first flight of the Mystère IV 01, piloted by Constantin Rozanoff, took place at Melun-Villaroche on September 28, 1952. Using the same engine as the Mystère II, it reached a maximum level speed of Mach 0.92 (instead of 0.87) and, on its 34th flight on January 17, 1953, broke the sound barrier in a dive. The new aircraft's qualities prompted the government to place an order for 22 pre-production aircraft in October 1952.

In December 1952, a U.S. Air Force mission led by General Richard Boyd and Charles “Chuck” Yeager came to test the French fighters, in order to select the one to receive U.S. funding within the framework of NATO. On December 7, they declared themselves highly satisfied with the Mystère IV 01. On April 25, just six months after the aircraft's maiden flight, the French Secretary of State for the Air Force placed an order for 225 aircraft and spares, with delivery due to start in June 1954. They are offered to the French Air Force as part of the US Off Shore Procurment Program.

A total of 411 aircraft were built and delivered, for the French Air Force and for export, between 1954 and 1958; 114 were equipped with the Rolls-Royce Tay, all the others (notably those exported) with the Hispano-Suiza Verdon 350 (a more powerful version of the Tay). The last of the 242 French Mystère IV As is delivered to the French Air Force on November 27, 1958. It ends its career at the 8e Escadre de Chasse de Cazaux, where it is used to train future fighter pilots.

The Patrouille de France in use from 1957 to 1963. In 1957, at the Paris Air Show, the Patrouille, flying the Mystère IV, was the first in the world to use tricolored smoke (blue, white, red).

Like the Ouragan, the Mystère IV A attracts foreign interest. India buys 110 examples. On December 28, 1955, Israel orders 59. All would go on to fight in the 1956 and 1967 Israeli wars, and in the 1965 and 1971 Indian wars against Pakistan.

Mystère IVs enjoy an excellent reputation. Robust, reliable, a good firing platform, maneuverable and capable of excellent performance, they were, at the time of their entry into service, at least the equivalent of the best foreign fighters: the American Sabre and the British Hunter. In combat, they clearly outclassed the MiG 15, their main adversary during the Israeli-Arab wars. Gradually assigned to assault missions with the advent of more modern fighters, both friendly and enemy, they gave full satisfaction in this use.