cosmiccomet wrote
IA Dagger A (Israeli copy of the Mirage V)
The Israeli's weren't copying the Nesher (Mirage), but simply assembling them from knockdown kits supplied by France according to Gene Salvay. Gene Salvay an engineer with Rockwell and involved in the Kfir design revealed the details in Wings magazine during 2000.
Salvay revealed that he was the Chief designer of the Kfir (Mirage variant fitted with J79 engine). The embargo on the Mirage 5Js that ended up being absorbed by the French Air Force was just a show. The Mirage 5 in kit form were being supplied by the French through the back door as fast as US transports could deliver them.
IAI Nesher 501 on display in Israel has French manufacture plates.
Photos: Dassault Mirage 5J (Nesher) Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net
David Lednicer inspected the ID plate. Link to image.
File:M5Jplate.jpg - Scramble
Despite the official story that this is an IAI Nesher, a check of the aircraft ID plates in the wheel wells reveals that this is really the first production Mirage 5J. On display in the Israel Air Force Museum.
David Lednicer who took the image also knew Gene Salvay and spoke to him in a telephone conversation to confirm the French supplied kit story.
MiG-21 combat record? - rec.aviation.military | Google Groups
Falklands/Argentine Aircraft - rec.aviation.military | Google Groups
Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums - View Single Post - Nesher
They story generates a fair bit of controversy. It would be interesting to see the construction plates of the Argentine Daggers?