We used to hold regular DACT night-stop exercises with the French Mirages, alternating between home and away games. The Mirage was good for the initial turn but bled energy quickly. It wasn't a good idea if you tried to stay and turn, so use of the vertical and keeping your energy up was the way to go. Remember one particular 2v2 against the Creil based Mirages, overhead Paris itself. Can't remember exactly what the base height was, but it was somewhere around FL250. I ended up in a spin and recall it being a bit surreal spinning over the capital of France!