Mirage BALZAC VTOL

A modification of the Mirage III/5 family that placed eight lift engines surrounding the main engine. More engine failure possibilities than a B-52. The program was canceled after tests proved that the range and payload of the aircraft were cut in half by the addition of the VTOL capabilities. Two pilots were killed during the test phase of the Mirage IIIV after they lost control of the aircraft during hover tests. The IIIV is the only VTOL aircraft to ever break Mach 2.0.