SAAF Variants:

In October 1971, the SAAF send an evaluation team to France. Commandants (Lt. Col.) Bossie Huyser and Zach Repsold evaluated the initial test F1 aircraft. The French was suitable impressed by these SAAF Mirage III pilots, who displayed superior airmanship and marksmanship, despite flying an essentially new aircraft. It was concluded after the initial evaluation that the F1 was in fact the correct choice for the SAAF. SA selected both the CZ which was very similar to the French CZ interceptor and a unique SA model, the AZ for the ground attack role. The AZ was later also exported to Libya, with a different component fit.

Mirage F1 CZ:
The F1CZ is a all-weather, multi-purpose fighter-interceptor. Internally the F1 did not offer improved armament - like the Mirage IIIs it was armed with two 30 mm cannons in its lower front fuselage, but with five strong points under the wings and belly for armament and extra fuel tanks. However, in other ways, it was a vast improvement on the older Mirages. As used in the SAAF the Fl CZ variant is slightly faster than the Mirage III family, capable of Mach 2,2 under combat conditions. Its endurance for patrol or high altitude pursuit is triple compared to the earlier aircraft, while it has double the radius of action when deployed on close-support missions at low altitude. It requires 23% less runway for take-off, and the maximum approach speed when landing is 20% lower. The F1's maximum wing-loading is almost double of its predecessor, while slats on the leading edge of its wings have enhanced agility in combat. As its major combat aid the F1 carries in its nose an improved Thomson-CSF Cyrano IV multi-function radar system which provides automatic follow-up and fire control for the pilot. The familiar pilot friendly cockpit was improved with everything in the right place. The success of the aircraft is mainly due to the snug fit and general layout of the cockpit. In 1974, Cmdt Bossie Huyser received the post to oversee the F1 programme. Much of the success of this aircraft type in the SAAF was largely due to his efforts. Soon after SAAF pilots Maj Chris Lombard, Capt. Jack Grundling and Capt. Mitz Maritz left for France for the conversion course. Together with Bossie Huyser, they became the SAAF's F1 Project team. On 2 December 1974, Maj Chris Lombard flew the first sortie in a SAAF F1CZ (201), after Cmdt Bossie Huyser in 202 experienced a technical glitch. F1 CZ No 200 remained in France to be standardized as this was the project aircraft, and was subsequently the last F1 CZ delivered to the SAAF in 1977.	A pair of F1CZs of 3 Sqdn, in formation over the Northern Transvaal (Northern Province).
	Maj Chris Lombard the first SAAF pilot to fly the F1, in CZ no 201.

No 204 was the first aircraft to be locally assembled by Atlas (DENEL) followed by 205 and later 201, 202 & 203. The first two F1CZs (No 204 - Cmdt Bossie Huyser & 205 Maj Chris Lombard) were flown from Atlas to the newly formed No.3 Squadron at Waterkloof AFB on April 4, 1975. Cmdt Bossie Huyser ensured he flew the first sortie over SA soil. It was, however, still very much a secret operation at that stage, particularly in South Africa. 

At the bi-annual Paris Air Show in June 1975 Dassault displayed a SAAF F1 CZ and the first SAAF F1 AZ - but South Africans had no opportunity of seeing what their money had bought till September that year, when some F1CZs were displayed under armed guard at Waterkloof AFB near Pretoria - where photographs for publication were not exactly welcomed! In total, the SAAF received 16 F1 CZs, with serial numbers from 200 - 216. Until the retirement of the F1 CZ in September 1992, the Waterkloof F1s of 3 Squadron provided the Republic's northern border with its primary knock-out punch as part of the Northern Air Defence Sector (NADS). Two F1 CZs were always on standby in a special hangar. Plug-in cords kept their systems gently turning over and their pilots prepared for action in case the early-warning radar network detects suspicious-looking "blips" heading towards the Pretoria-Johannesburg complex. If that happens the hangar's door rolls up into its roof and the F1s blast down the runway. In less than a minute they are fast-vanishing dots in the northern sky. This function has since been taken over by the Cheetah C of 2 Squadron, based at AFB Louis Trichardt. (now AFB Makhado).

Mirage F1 AZ:

The SAAF also ordered 32 of the Fl AZ variant (serial numbers 217 - 249), which is primarily a ground attack fighter, to replace the Mirage IIIEZ. In 1975, Capt Andre van der Heever was appointed to start the F1 AZ project. With Capt Gawie Winterbach they became the first F1 students and attended the course at 3 Sqdn. A few CZ flying hours later, they left for France to attend the first of the technical courses on the AZ. On 7 October 1975, Capt Gawie Winterbach flew the first AZ sortie by a SAAF pilot in No 216. During March 1976 the first AZs arrived at Atlas. On 24 March 1976, Capt Gawie Winterbach, flew the first AZ sortie over SA, again in 216. This was followed by Andre van der Heever in no 217. All the F1s were shipped by sea and then by road transport to Atlas for assembly, except no 239 - 247. The last nine aircraft were flown from France to SA by C130s from 28 Sqdn,

Mirage F1 AZ with vapour trails at the wing tips. Note the different nose profile as compared to the CZ.

F1 AZ refuelling from a 24 Sqdn, Buccaneer.

The F1AZs started arriving in 1976 and were allocated to No.1 Squadron, then still flying Sabre Mk6s out of Air Force Base Pietersburg - which it shared with 85 Advanced Flying School. No. 1 Squadron handed its Sabres over to 85 AFS and moved to Waterkloof, there to operate its F1 AZs in such discreet manner that they were not revealed to the general public until another air show was held at Ysterplaat and Waterkloof in February 1980 to celebrate the SAAF's 60th anniversary. The Mirage F1AZ was the last new aircraft type delivered to South Africa!