SAAF F1 AZ stars in Citroen commercial.

Top photo: C. Hugo. 

One of the SAAF's Mirage F1 AZs stared during 2002 in a TV commercial for Citroen. The AZ used was no 233 and painted in a special colour scheme. The aircraft was declared serviceable on 21 January 2002. Filming started on 22 January and ended on 23 January using a specially equipped Learjet (non SA). Flights were out of Waterkloof AFB in Pretoria. This AZ was not repainted and performed a few fly passes at Africa Aerospace and Defense 2002 at which time the commercial was also screened in South Africa. In the commercial the pilot actor wears the famous blue helmet of the "Billy Boys" with the callsign "Piranha" on the front of the helmet.

No 233 in used at TFDC.	No 233 with the paint scheme almost complete. The yellow stripe is not complete and the canopy still masked off.
No. 233 after it was declared serviceable. Filming of the commercial started the next day, 22 January 2002.	The Citroen C3.

I would like to thank C. Crous for submitting the photos to IPMS SA.

During AAD 2004 no 233 was one of the flying demonstrators - all to the delight of the crowd, as the F1 is very popular with the aviation enthusiasts. The colour scheme remained unchanged but received “AEROSUD” logos in silver on the fuselage and tail fin. Ejection seat warning markings in red and the most essential Mirage markings in yellow were also applied.