The Vautour Pages
THE VAUTOUR IN THE IAF SERVICE - SECTION 5

THE AIRCRAFT LIST

A total of 31 Vautours entered the IAF service, of which 19 were of the A subtype, 8 - N and 4 B.

Many speculations, besides mistakes and even disinformation, were involved to produce some uncertainties regarding the exact quantity of Vautours. For many years the figure of 25 Vautours, A variant only, was prevalent among publishers. The existence of the N and B sub-types hd been concealed for years, and revealed after the end of their service.

Disinformation, besides authors' mistakes, may explain 35 serial numbers published in texts and photos. (The serials 10, 16, 27 and 68 never existed).

Well - all sorts of speculations about the quantity of Vautours are simply untrue, and should be disregarded.


The two-digit serial numbers were sometimes prefixed by a third (1, 2, 4 or 5) digit. This serials were typical to the post Six Days War period, but exceptions can be found in some of the photos and drawings.

The Vautours were colored in the following schemes:

* During the very first period: Silver, all three sub-types.
* Two different cammo. schemes were in use, during later years (1960 and ca. 1964).
* The N fighters were silver coated as long as they served in this role. After the conversion of the N aircraft to the attack role they were also painted in camouflage colors.
For examples see the Vautours Drawings gallery


The Vautours were the first fighter type in the IAF to be individually nicknamed. ( Only the Meteors T.7 had names. P.M. Ben-Gurion personally gave names to the first two on their arrival).
The nicknames were given after the Six Days War, at the time Y. Terner was assigned 110 Sqn. Commander. A total of 18 Vautours were named.
6) Nicknaming was a "pioneer" act, preceding the naming of the F-15s & F-16s, by some 15 years.

7) The type itself had no code-name, while contemporaries in service had, as the Mirage ("Sha-chak") and the Supere Mystere ("Sambad" = S.M.B.2 (2 - "Deux").
8) The Vautours were called in operation orders, as Vautour "Alef" (A), "Bet" (B) and "Lammed" (N, La-mm-ed stands for "Laila" - Night in Hebrew, this remained when converted to attack/leading roles, as well).

[ Vautour IIA ] [ Vautour IIN ] [ Vautour IIB ]



List Summary

    The 31 Vautours that entered IAF service were:
  • A = 19
    03, 05, 07, 08, 09, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26 (arrived August 1957 - July 1958).
    29, 30 (arrived after the Six Days War).
  • N = 8
    61, 62, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69 (arrived April 1958 - July 1958).
    70 (arrived 1964).
  • B = 4
    31, 33, 35 {as BR}, 37 {B} (arrived July 1958 - March 1959).


Details about the IAF Vautours were collected from many sources:
[ A. Crosnier ] [ S. Aloni ] [ D. Shapira, book ] [ H. Bodinger ] [ Y. Terner ] [ N. Har-el ] [ N. Segal ] [ Z. Tavor ]
[ "Scramble", via J. Hayles ] [ Kne-Mida ] [ Ilan Orhof ] [ A. Dor ]

* The list is sorted according to the two "main" digits.

Abbreviations:
[ C/N = Manufacturer / SNCASO serial number ]
[ Fr. Ser. = Armee de L'air serial ]
[ SDW + = participated in the Six Days War ]
[ "LL" = covert name for the Israeli Vautours deal, here - delivered to Tours, 3/30 squadron conversion & training section ]
[ Length of service (gross), Y:M = Years:Months ]
Lost / damaged : [ ACC. = in accident ] [ COM. = in combat ] [ D. = severely damaged ]


Vautour IIA
    03 / 103 / 303
  • First Vautour of the IAF.
  • "Hamashtik" {"Silencer"}.
  • C/N: 25
  • Fr. Ser. : 13
  • First flight: June 8, 1957
  • Left manufacturer {St. Nazaire} and delivered: July 31, 1957
  • Conveyed, from St. Nazaire: July 31 - August 1st, 1957, by Dani Shapira.
  • Arrived August 1st, 1957, to Hatzor.
  • Began active service: April 1958.
  • Sent to France for "Shafrir-1" AAM trials, February - March 1963.
  • This aircraft was known for its bombing precision.
  • SDW + ;
  • Lost 23/4/69, COM. Jordan.
  • Length of service: 11:0 years.
  • Pictures: [ arrival ] ___ [ picture ]
    05 / 505
  • "Hameshachneah" {"Convincer"}.
  • C/N: 22
  • Fr. Ser. : 12
  • First flight: April 16, 1957
  • Left manufacturer {St. Nazaire} and delivered to the IAF : August 12, 1957
  • Conveyed: August 12 - August 13, 1957, by Dani Shapira.
  • Arrived: August 13, 1957, to Hatzor.
  • Began active service: April 1958.
  • SDW + ;
  • Withdrawn: April 1971.
  • Length of service: 13:0 years.
  • [ pictures ]
    07 / 107
  • C/N: 28
  • Fr. Ser. : 14
  • First flight: July 4, 1957.
  • Left manufacturer: August 15, 1957
  • Delivered to "LL".
  • Conveyed: October 25 - October 26, 1957, by Dani Shapira.
  • Arrived: October 26, 1957, to Hatzor.
  • Began active service: April 1958.
  • SDW + ;
  • Lost 5/6/67 COM, Dummyer, Syria.
  • Length of service: 9:2 years
  • [ pictures ]
    08
  • C/N: 39
  • Fr. Ser. : 18
  • First flight: August 13, 1957.
  • Left manufacturer: October 17, 1957.
  • Delivered to "LL" squadron.
  • Conveyed: October 25 - October 26, 1957, by Yehezkel Somekh.
  • Arrived: October 26, 1957, to Hatzor.
  • Began active service: April 1958.
  • This aircraft had somewhat different wings, convex leading edges, with better aerodynamic properties.
  • SDW + ;
  • Lost 6/6/67. COM. Syrian Heights.
  • Length of service: 9:2 years.
  • [ pictures ]
    09 / 109
  • "Hamashchit" {"Destroyer"} .
  • C/N: 30
  • Fr. Ser. : 15
  • First flight: July 25, 1957.
  • Left manufacturer: November 8, 1957 and delivered to "LL".
  • Conveyed: November 15 - November 16, 1957, by Dani Shapira (till Bizerta) and Yehezkel Somekh (from Bizerta).
  • Arrived: November 16, 1957, to Hatzor.
  • Began active service: April 1958.
  • Fitted to test the "Shafrir-1", between September 1962 to February 1963.
  • SDW+ ;
  • Withdrawn April 1971 .
  • Length of service: 13:0 years.
  • Preserved at IAF museum. Flown to the museum from IAI, its repairs (the bomb bay) was stopped. For some time it was in flying condition.
  • Pictures: [ page 1 ] ___ [ page 2 ] ___ [ page 3 ]
    11 / 116
  • C/N: 33
  • Fr. Ser. : 16
  • First flight: July 10, 1957.
  • Left manufacturer: November 8, 1957 and delivered to "LL".
  • Conveyed: January 29 - January 30, 1958 . Pilot: Yoash Tsiddon .
  • Arrived: January 30, 1958, to Hatzor.
  • Began active service: April 1958.
  • Lost 25/1/62 ACC.
  • Length of service: 3:8 years.
  • [ picture ]
    12
  • "Tor-Na-Do" {Tornado"}.
  • C/N: 36
  • Fr. Ser. : 17
  • First flight: August 1, 1957.
  • Left manufacturer: November 8, 1957 and delivered to "LL".
  • Conveyed: November 15 - November 23, 1957. Pilots: Yehezkel Somekh (till Bizerta) and Dani Shapira (from Bizerta, after a delay for repair).
  • Arrived: November 23, 1957, to Hatzor.
  • Began active service: April 1958.
  • SDW + ; Damaged and suffered many failures during the war
  • Withdrawn April 1971.
  • It was flown to Sinai to become a decoy, Refidim (Bir-Gafgafa) AFB.
  • Length of service: 13:0 years
  • Preserved at the IAF Tech. School, Haifa, airframe might not be the original.
    {* The technical school used from the mid. sixties a stricken Vautour A, numbered "28", so it could be one of the lost / severly damaged a/c.}
  • Pictures:
    [ page 1 ] __ [ page 2 ]
    14 / {114 ?} / 214
  • C/N: 41
  • Fr. Ser. : 19
  • First flight: August 17, 1957.
  • Left manufacturer: November 26, 1957 and delivered to "LL".
  • Conveyed: December 19 - December 20, 1957, by Yehezkel Somech.
  • Arrived: December 20, 1957, to Hatzor.
  • Began active service: April 1958.
  • SDW + ;
  • Lost 7/6/67 COM. H-3.
  • Length of service: 9:2 years
  • { No picture available}
    15 / 115
  • C/N: 48
  • Fr. ser. : 23
  • First flight: September 27, 1957.
  • Left manufacturer: December 20, 1957 and delivered to "LL".
  • Conveyed: January 9 - January 13, 1957, by Ezra Aharon.
  • Arrived: January 13, 1958, to Hatzor.
  • Began active service: April 1958.
  • Lost 25/11/62, ACC.
  • Length of service: 4:7 years
  • [ pictures ]
    17 / 517
  • "Ha-Pan-Ter" {Panther"}.
  • C/N: 45
  • Fr. Ser. : 21
  • First flight: September 9, 1957.
  • Left manufacturer: November 26, 1957 and delivered to "LL".
  • Conveyed: December 19 - December 20, 1957, by Dani Shapira.
  • Arrived: December 20, 1957, to Hatzor.
  • Began active service: April 1958.
  • SDW + ;
  • The only Vautour credited for a A-A victory - shot down an Iraqi Hunter, June 6, 1967, over H-3.
  • This aircraft suffered constant leaks from one of its fuel cells. As the problem couldn't be fixed, this cell was not filled, thus the "17" had always less fuel and was lighter in take off.
  • Withdrawn April 1971.
  • Length of service: 13:0 years
  • It was flown to Sinai to become a decoy, Refidim (Bir-Gafgafa) AFB.
  • Pictures: [ page 1 ] _ _ [ page 2 ] _ _ [ page 3 ]
    18 / 180?
  • "Ash-Me-Dai" {"Asmadeus"}.
  • C/N: 46
  • Fr. Ser. : 22
  • First flight: September 6, 1957.
  • Left manufacturer: November 26, 1957 and delivered to "LL".
  • Conveyed: January 9 - January 13, 1958, by Yoash Tsiddon.
  • Arrived: January 13, 1958 to Hatzor.
  • Began active service: April 1958.
  • SDW + ;The most active Vautour of the war.
  • Withdrawn April 1971.
  • Length of service: 13:0 years
  • [ picture ]
    20
  • "Ya-Gu-Ar" {"Jaguar"}.
  • C/N: 42
  • Fr. Ser. : 20
  • First flight: August 17, 1957.
  • Left manufacturer: [ A.C - January 4, 1958 ? ] { possibly before that date ? } and delivered to "LL".
  • Conveyed: December 20, 1957 by Yoash Tsiddon .
  • Arrived : December 20, 1957 to Hatzor.
  • Began active service: April 1958.
  • ACC. actually lost, June 28, 1964. Pilot was H. Bodinger.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    [ The "20", after crash, in the ploughed terrain ]
    {Courtesy of H. Bodinger }
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  • The broken aircraft was moved to the IAI. Two offers for rebuilt the Vautour were received, from the IAI and from Sud-Aviation. The French offer was cheaper, and after some time it was dismantled and shipped to France. In the French plant it became clear that the aircraft, while in the IAI, was "canibalized" to such extent, that the French refused to refurbish it for the same cost promised. The "20" was shipped back to Israel and waited for a decision about its rebuilt.
  • After the French embargo was lifted upon spares, it was decided to refurbish the aircraft, although only a part of the fuselage and wings survived.
    * The work was a joint production of the IAI and the IAF /Central Maintenance Unit. It began October 1968 and lasted till July 1970.
    * Spare parts were "collected" from all the airbases. Some parts were found in the Technical School but finally a delegation went to St. Nazaire, to look for more needed spares. Among other parts a whole cockpit was purchased.
    * The work lasted for some 2 years, and the "20" was finally delivered to the IAF after 3 flight tests, performed by H. Bodinger himself:
    1) July 30, 1970, for 35 min.
    2) August 4, 30 min.
    3) August 5, 25 min.
  • The "20" was ferried August 14, 1970, to the squadron, by H. Bodinger, and re-entered to active service.
  • Withdrawn April 1971.
  • Length of service: 6:11 years
  • Pictures: [ page 1 ] __ [ page 2 ]
    21 / 210 / 421
  • "Kobra" {"Cobra"}.
  • C/N: 52
  • Fr. Ser. : 24
  • First flight: October 22, 1957.
  • Left manufacturer: January 13, 1957 and delivered to "LL".
  • Conveyed: January 29, 1958, by Ezra Aharon.
  • Arrived : January 29, 1958, to Hatzor.
  • Began active service: April 1958.
  • SDW + . Damaged 6/6/67 and returned to service on 10/6/67
  • Withdrawn April 1971.
  • Length of service: 13:0 years
  • [ picture ]
    22
  • C/N: 64
  • Fr. Ser. : 27
  • First flight: January 2, 1958.
  • Left manufacturer: February 19, 1958 and delivered to "LL".
  • Participated in armament tests at Cazaux before ferry.
  • Conveyed: June 20 - June 21, 1958, by Reuven Har-el .
  • Arrived: June 21, 1958 , to Ramat David.
  • Began active service: June 1958.
  • Lost July 21, 1959, ACC.
  • Length of service: 1:1 year
  • Pictures: [ landing in Tebessa, as s/n 27 ]
    23 / 123
  • C/N: 67
  • Fr. Ser. : 28
  • First flight: January 2, 1958.
  • Left manufacturer: March 18, 1958 and delivered to "LL".
  • Conveyed: June 20 - June 21, 1958, by Shimon Ash (till Tebessa) and Yehezkel Somekh (from Tebessa).
  • Arrived : June 21, 1958 , to Ramat David.
  • Began active service: June 1958.
  • Tested the "Shafrir-1" in Israel.
  • Lost July 22, 1962 ACC.
  • Length of service: 4:1 years
  • Picture: [ with Shafrir-1 ]
    25
  • C/N: 57
  • Fr. Ser. : 25
  • First flight: December 18, 1957.
  • Left manufacturer: February 19, 1958 and delivered to "LL".
  • Participated in armament tests at Cazaux before ferry.
  • Participated in armament tests at Cazaux.
  • Conveyed: July 25 - July 26 1958 . Pilot: Reuven Har-el
  • Arrived : July 26, 1958 , to Ramat David
  • Began active service: July 1958.
  • Lost July 21, 1959 ACC.
  • Length of service: 1:0 year
  • [ pictures ]
    26 / 126 / 226
  • "Pe-Ten" {"Viper"}.
  • C/N: 61
  • Fr. ser. : 26
  • First flight: December 18, 1957.
  • Left manufacturer: February 19, 1958, and delivered to "LL"
  • Participated in armament tests at Cazaux before ferry.
  • Conveyed: July 25 - July 26, 1958, by Dani Shapira.
  • Arrived : July 26, 1958, to Ramat David.
  • Began active service: July 1958.
  • SDW + .
  • Withdrawn April 1971.
  • Length of service: 13:0 years
  • Preserved, Ramat David AFB. (Remained as memorial in the squadron after being retired).
  • [ picture ]
    29
  • "Pogrom" {"Masacre"}.
  • Originally: fr. ser. 8 (C/N 12, serial production). Later V2A-"08" and V2A 92-AE.
  • First flight: February 17, 1957.
  • Engine as produced: ATAR 101 D-3.
  • Delivered April 27, 1057 to EAA-601 for tests.
  • In May 1957 was equipped with the ATAR 101 E.4.
  • In February 1960 it was converted to tanker configuration, and renumbered "08".
  • The "08" was the only Vautour "V2A Tanker", and it carried a Douglas refuelling system, of the "pipe and drogue" type (a flexible pipe and a funnel), plus a large, extra, fuel tank under the fuselage.
  • This Vautour was intended to train pilots in refuelling the Mirage-4.
  • Among its test flights were refuelling other Vautours (with refuelling probes, as the 7/"07" ), the naval Etendard fighter and the Mirage-4. The tests continued till 1963.
  • It returned to service in the 92nd wing till 1965. After a period in CEV/Bretigny it was transferred to Merignac, and eneded its service in 1966.
  • the "08" was "discovered" by ab Israeli delegation, in September 1968, that arrived Chateaudun in order to find and purchase spare parts. The group was headed by N. Har-el, then the commander of the technical sqn. Wing no. 1.
  • Surprisingly a "full" aircraft was found, with its refuelling equippment, including two large fuel tanks.
  • The "08" was dismantled by the Israeli team, with the aid of French ground crew, in secrecy ("conspiracy", as though the embargo was not valid for this operation) and shipped by air (Stratocruiser and Nord cargo planes) to Israel.
  • The last transport arrived in August 30,, 1968.
  • It was assembled and restored in Israel by the IAI and in the wing's facilities. (the U.S. made refueling equipment and "bidonnes" were found fit for the Skyhawks.
  • The nickname "Pogrom" is some extreme interpretation of the "savage" dismantling of the aircraft, as brought.
  • First test flight was performed in January 17, 1969. {pilot: Zeev Tavor ?}
  • Entered service: 1969, exact date unknown (possibly February 1969 ?).
  • The "29" had somewhat different wings, convex leading edges, with better aerodynamic properties.
  • Withdrawn April 1971.
  • Length of service in the IAF: 2:2 years
  • Airframe donated to Kibbutz Kefar-Giladi (Upper Galilee) after it had been in Refidim (ex. Bir-Gafgafa), as decoy.
    { The aircraft is a memorial to Major Naftali Porat, KIA }
  • Pictures: [ page 1 ] __ [ page 2 ]
    30
  • "Embargo" .
  • Originally: fr. ser. 7 ( C/N 10, serial production ], later V2A-"07" and 92-AD.
  • First flight: January 24, 1957. Engined with ATAR 101D-3.
  • Delivered April 2, 1957, to "Loire" Sqn. / 30th wing, to serve as pilot trainer.
  • It was transferred to CIB, July 1963, and was modified for air refuelling tests. The aircraft was renumbered "07", and it was the first, of several Vautour A and B, to be equipped with a refuelling probe. As such it tested receiving fuel from the IIA tanker "08". It was also tested with the KC-135F.
  • In 1965 it was assigned to the 92nd wing, as refuelling trainer ("reciever"), but retained its bombing capability.
  • Ended its service in 1966 and was transferred to Chateaudun.
  • Flew 1,421 h. till its delivery to Israel.
  • An Isreli delegation arrived to Chateaudun toinspect this Vautour, in September 4, 1967. The Israeli members were Lt. Col. Dani Shpira, Maj. E. Simon, Capt. Bahir, Lt. Baruch and Lt. Segal. The last was the technical officer of Sqn. 110, an expert in Vautours.
  • Nathan Segal, aided by the French ground crews, succeeded to return the a/c to seviceability.
  • Dani Shapira flew the "07" twice before concluding its ferry. The second test flight was in doubt because of the rough weather, ice and snow covering the runway. Nathan Segal advised Danni to defrost the cold layer by taxiing on the runway with high engine power... it worked and this test flight went as scheduled.
  • Several days later, Dani Shapira took off, December 21, 1967. After a stop at Brindizi, The "07" arrived to Lod AFB.
  • Danni Shapira tells, in his book, that the base commander had received an order to stop the dparture of the Vautour, because of the embargo which had begun June 1967. The French commander, knowing the contents of the order, didn't open it, but hinted Shapira that if he would take off before a specific hour, he, the commander, will "open" the order shortly after. This version, of a "semi - smuggle", is, probably the origin of the Vautour 30 nickname...
  • After being refurbished in IAI, it entered service in an unknown date, beginning of 1968.
  • Withdrawn April 1971.
  • Length of service in the IAF: ~ 3:0 years
  • [ picture ]

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Vautour IIN
    61
  • "Ha-Ar-Pad" {"Vampire"}.
  • C/N: 47
  • Fr. Ser : 322
  • First flight: September 17, 1957
  • Left manufacturer: December 2, 1958, and delivered first to CEV, later transferred to "LL".
  • Conveyed: April 3 - April 4, 1958, by Yoash Tsiddon and Elyashiv Brosh.
  • Arrived : April 4, 1958, to Hatzor.
  • Began active service: June 1958
  • SDW - didn't participate. ( Was in major repair, IAI, between May 1967 to February 1968 ).
  • Lost 5/7/69 ACC.
  • Length of service: 11:1 years
  • Pictures: [ page 1 ] _ _ [ page 2 ]
    62 / 162
  • "Li-Lit" {"Lilith"}
  • C/N: 53
  • Fr. Ser. : 325
  • First flight : October 22, 1957
  • Left manufacturer: January 13, 1958 and delivered to "LL".
  • Conveyed: April 3 - April 4, 1958, by Ezra Aharon and a French navigator.
  • Arrived : April 4, 1958, to Hatzor.
  • Began active service: June 1958
  • SDW + ; The most active IIN in the war.
  • Fitted with ECM "Yabelet" pods, after the war.
  • Withdrawn April 1971.
  • Length of service: 12:9 years
  • [ pictures ]
    64
  • C/N: 58
  • Fr. Ser. : 328
  • First flight : December 1, 1957
  • Left manufacturer: June 10, 1958 and delivered to "LL" .
  • Conveyed: June 20 - June 21, 1958, by Yoash Tsiddon and Elyashiv Brosh.
  • Arrived : April 21, 1958, to Tel-Noff.
  • Began active service: June 1958
  • Lost January 11, 1961 ACC.
  • Length of service: 2:7 years
  • [ pictures ]
    65
  • C/N: 54
  • Fr. Ser. : 326
  • First flight : November 25, 1957
  • Left manufacturer: January 13, 1958 and delivered to "LL" .
  • Conveyed: April 3 - April 4, 1958 by a French team.
  • Arrived : April 4, 1958, to Hatzor.
  • Began active service: June 1958
  • SDW + ;
  • Lost June 7, 1967 COM. H-3.
  • Length of service: 9:0 years
  • No picture of "65" is available.
    66
  • "Dra-Kon" {"Dragon"}
  • C/N: 55
  • Fr. Ser. : 327
  • First flight : November 12, 1957
  • Left manufacturer: January 13, 1958 and delivered to "LL".
  • Conveyed: April 3 - April 4, 1958 by yehezkel Somekh and Itzchak Erez.
  • Arrived: April 4, 1958, to Hatzor.
  • Began active service: June 1958
  • ACC. , April 21, 1963. Actually lost. Refurbished and fitted to photo-recce 1964-1966. Probably unarmed.
  • Re-entered srvice September 1966.
  • Fitted also for ECM , a short time before the Six Days War, and its guns were removed.
  • SDW + ;
  • It was armed with "Shafrir-1" for self-defence.
  • Withdrawn April 1972.
  • Length of service: 10:5 years
  • It was flown in March 1972 to Sinai, to become a decoy in Refidim (Bir-Gafgafa) AFB.
  • [ pictures ]
    67 / 167
  • "Tzik-Lon" {"Cyclon"}.
  • C/N: 60
  • Fr. Ser. : 329 .
  • First flight : January 20, 1958.
  • Left manufacturer: April 17, 1958 and delivered to "LL" .
  • Conveyed: June 20 - June 21, 1958 by Yehezkel Somekh/Shimon Ash and Itzchak Erez.
  • Arrived: June 21, 1958, to Tel-Noff.
  • Began active service: June 1958
  • SDW + ; Damaged severly from A-A fire and landed on its belly, 6/6/67. Stayed for several months for repair.
  • Fitted with ECM "Yabelet" pods, after the war.
  • Withdrawn April 1971.
  • Length of service: 12:10 years
  • [ pictures ]
    69
  • C/N: 69
  • Fr. Ser. : 330
  • First flight : February 14, 1958
  • Left manufacturer: July 23, 1958 and delivered to "LL".
  • Conveyed: July 25 - July 26, 1958, by Yaakov Agassi and Itzchak Erez.
  • Arrived: July 26, 1958, to Tel-Noff.
  • Began active service: July 1958
  • The first serial N which had gun-barrels' deflectors, retained during its whole service.
  • Sent to test the Matra R-530 AA missile in France, for a long period, 1963 - 1964. Performed the tests at the range of Colomb- Bechar, Algerian Sahara.
  • Was back in Israel, Sqn. 110, January 1964, but shortly after was was returned to France, May 1964, in exchange to the "70".
  • Length of service in the IAF (gross): 5:10 years
  • Continued service as interceptor with the Armee de L'air "Normandie Niemmen" squadron, {of 30th Wing, than stationed in Reims }.
  • {It is strange why Israel consented to give up a Vautour N, its inventory was so limited, only 4 in 1964 ......! z.k.}
  • Phased out from service in France, April 1974, in a ceremonial gathering, before its transfer to the museum.
  • Preserved and exibited at Le Bourget museum, coded 30-ML.
  • [ pictures ]
    70
  • "Phantomas" .
  • C/N: 4 (first N production a/c)
  • Fr. Ser : 301
  • First flight: October 10, 1956.
  • Delivered to CEV in February 27, 1957, where it served all its lifetime.
  • Used for gun and rockets firing tests (at Cazaux AFB). Also tested new auxialiary fuel tanks.
  • In 1961 was converted to test the Drac-32 {"Cyrano"} radar, planned for the Mirage-3.
  • Its original engines ATAR-101 D.3 were possibly replaced by stronger engines, (type unknown)
  • Purchased by Israel in 1964, when withdrawn from the FR-AF.
  • Arrived May 1964 , conveyed by a French pilot.
  • Stayed in IAI for about a year till its refurbishing. The French authorities demanded to return its engines. Because of shortage in spares it was only after a year that standard ATAR-101 E.3 became available. At the IAI some studies regarding its radar were carried out.
  • Converted by the Central Maintenance Unit, Tel-Noff, to EW / ECM role, with "Yabelet" pods, and remained unarmed.
  • Tested first in flight August 11, 1966. Adam Tzivoni and other pilots of Sqn. 110 flew the aircraft during works.
  • Apparently entered active service - September 1966.
  • One of the early flights of the "70" is recorded in December 22, 1966, already in the squadron. [ O. Nachman logbook ]
  • SDW +, as ECM carrier.
  • 1968 : Fitted with a camera-pod in the nose .
  • Probably with more advanced EW means during the War of Attrition.
  • Fitted with 2 "Shafrir-1", and later, end of 1970 - with "Shafrir-2".
  • Withdrawn : April 1972
  • Length of service, in the IAF: 5:6 years.
  • Proved to be a very profitable bargain, in its double role.
  • Though being uniqu it was conveyed to Sinai, to become a decoy.
  • Preserved, IAF museum, after Y. Terner insisted to save it from destruction.
  • [ page 1 ] ___ [ page 2 ] ___ [ page 3 ]



[ Two of the last Vautours , now preserved ]
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[ Vautour IIA ] [ Vautour IIN ] [ TOP OF PAGE ]


Vautour II B/BR
    31
  • "Ha-ach Hakatan" {"Little Brother"}.
  • C/N: 79
  • Fr. Ser : 616 .
  • First flight: April 23, 1958 .
  • Left manufacturer: July 22, 1958, and delivered to "LL".
  • Conveyed: July 25 - July 26, 1958, by Yoash Tsiddon and Elyashiv Brosh.
  • D. ACC. on arrival July 26 1958, Tel-Noff.
  • Repaired and entered service approx. in May 1959.
  • Converted to BR, 1960.
  • D. again, ACC, July 1962, repaired and returned to service, probably in 1963.
  • SDW + ;
  • Lost 1/12/67 COM. Suez.
  • Length of service: 8:2
  • [ pictures ]
    33
  • "Ha-ach Hagadol" {"Big Brother"}.
  • C/N: 95
  • Fr. Ser: 624
  • First flight: July 12, 1958.
  • Left manufacturer: December 16, 1958 and delivered to Cognac AFB.
  • Conveyed: December 22 - December 23, 1958 by Yehezkel Somekh and Shmuel Kislev.
  • Arrived: December 23, 1958, to Ramat David.
  • Entered active service: December 1958
  • Converted to BR, 1960 .
  • SDW + ;Most active in both roles: PR and attack.
  • Armed with "Shafrir-1" after the war.
  • Served till April 1972.
  • Length of service: 13:3 years
  • Preserved IAF museum. It was transported, wings dismantled, to the museum, on a tank-towing heavy truck.
  • [ pictures ]
    35
  • C/N: 98
  • Fr. Ser: 626 .
  • First flight: September 4, 1958 .
  • Left manufacturer: December 16, 1958 and delivered to Cognac AFB.
  • Conveyed: December 22 - December 23, 1958, by Zeev Tavor and Achikar Eyal.
  • Arrived: December 23, 1958, to Ramat David.
  • Entered active service: December 1958
  • First IIB to test PR equipment, 1959.
  • Lost October 5, 1964 ACC.
  • Length of service: 5:9 years
  • No picture is available.
    37
  • C/N: 101
  • Fr. Ser: 628 .
  • First flight: December 14, 1958 .
  • Left manufacturer: February 11, 1959 and delivered to Cognac AFB.
  • Conveyed: February - March 1959, including a long delay at Istres. Crew: Yoash Tsiddon and Uri Talmor.
  • Arrived: March 10, 1959, to Ramat David.
  • Entered active service: March 1959
  • Lost March 27, 1961 ACC, after just 115 flight hours.
  • Not converted to PR.
  • Length of service: 2:0 years
  • No picture is available.

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    Survivors:
  1. IAF Museum: A-09, BR-33, N(E)-70
  2. Ramat David AB: A-26
  3. IAF Technical School (Haifa): A-12 {serial number might not be the original}.
  4. Kibutz Kefar Giladi, Upper Galilee: A-29, airframe only.
  5. [ No "regular" N has been preserved ! ]


    @ AVERAGE SERVICE LIFE OF THE VAUTOUR IN THE IAF
  • IIA - ca. 8.5 years
  • IIN - ca. 7.5 years
  • IIB - ca. 7 years
  • GROSS AVERAGE = 8:2 Years.
  • EFFECTIVE SERVICE:
    a) In average one Vautour was always refurbished at the IAI and 1-2 in repaires at the wing maintenance facilities. A major refurbishment lasted between 6-9 months.
    b) One has to consider special periods of repair for damaged aircraft, besides the regular/periodical repairs.
    b) Considerable time was dedicated to install experimental equipment, which reduced the active period of the aircraft.
    c) A very rough estimate for the practical length of service would be:
    * IIA ~ ~ 7 years
    * IIN - ~ 6.5 years
    * IIB - 5.5 years.
    ** ESTIMATED OVERALL EFFECTIVE SERVICE: ~ ~ 6.5 Years !




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This page was last updated: November 25, 2002