Mirage IIIO

The late Paul Mason was an Aircraft Life Support Fitter in the RAAF. He served over 15 years in the Air force. Paul's passion for the Mirage started the day he first saw one fly over his house as a kid in the '60s. That interest stayed with him throughout his school years and into adult hood. Unfortunately he joined the RAAF too late to be able to work on them (unless you count packing them off to Pakistan) but did, at least, have the pleasure of seeing them perform at many an airshow over the years. Paul had also been an avid collector of all things 'Mirage' and his impressive collection included everything from photographs, publications and documents to an authentic ejection seat. In his spare time he was a keen modeller and aviation photographer and was also well known in the RAAF for his airbrush artwork. Co-author Darren Mottram joined the RAAF as an Instrument Fitter and spent 14 years working on Boeing 707s, Hercules and Macchis before leaving the RAAF as an Avionics Technician and joining BAE Systems, where he helps provide service and support for the RAAF's Hawk 127 Lead-In-Fighter. Darren was introduced to the Mirage at an early age when his late father, also an instrument fitter in the RAAF, would take him to work and let him crawl all over them and watch them tearing up the skies. Joining the RAAF just too late to be able to work on the Mirage, he was fortunate enough to be able to see some of the last public appearances of the graceful jet at the Bicentennial Airshow whilst he was based at Richmond. Also a keen modeller, he designed the special and commemorative paint schemes which have appeared on 76 SQN Macchis and Hawks. Illustrator Juanita Franzl is undoubtedly the best Australian aviation artist currently active, and her work has appeared in books and magazines world-wide. She has a well-deserved reputation for precision and accuracy in all her work.