The Fighter Jet That Was Never Supposed to Fight

#SEPECATJaguar #aviationhistory #aviation #coldwaraviation #JaguarStrikeFighter #desertstorm #gulfwar #RAF #frenchairforce #militaryaviation #jetage #testflight #closeairsupport #bosnia #WarplaneHistory The Fighter Jet That Was Never Supposed to Fight On Sunday, September 8, 1968, the runway at Istres in southern France sat empty at dawn except for one small twin engine jet, fueled and waiting. French test pilot Bernard Witt strapped in, closed the canopy, lit the reheat, and flew the first flight of an aircraft that two nations had built together. Four hundred feet away, British test pilot Jimmy Dell circled in a Mirage III chase plane, watching for anything that went wrong. Thirty minutes later the jet landed, and Britain and France had the first combat aircraft they designed jointly. What followed was not in anyone's plan that morning: over a thousand sorties after Iraq invaded Kuwait, patrols over northern Iraq and Bosnia, two thousand pound bombs and a reconnaissance pod. This film follows that record through the documents and the men who were there. SOURCES Flight International archive, September 1968 issues (first flight reporting, Istres) Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 1968-69 and 1975-76 editions (Jane's Publishing) Royal Air Force Museum, London, Jaguar airframe and technical file collection Service historique de la Défense, Vincennes, French Air Force Jaguar unit records Gulf War Air Power Survey, Volume IV: Weapons, Tactics and Training (Department of the Air Force, 1993) Step inside the machines that decided the fate of nations. This documentary takes you deep into the real story of [ENGINES OF WAR] — the engineering, the people, and the pressure of war that forged it. From the roar of piston engines to the dawn of the jet age, every detail is researched to bring history back to life. Whether you're a lifelong history buff, an aviation and armor enthusiast, or just here to fall down a late-night rabbit hole, this is the story behind the metal — told the way it deserves. ✨ Perfect for: History buffs and military/aviation enthusiasts Discovering the real engineering behind iconic war machines Background listening while you commute, work, or wind down Late-night deep dives into WW1, WW2 and Cold War history Anyone fascinated by the machines that changed warfare If this story brought history to life for you, take a moment to LIKE, SHARE it with a fellow history lover, and SUBSCRIBE to follow the series. More war machines, more untold stories — every week. Your support is what keeps these documentaries coming. Thank you for watching, and we'll see you in the next one. ©️ Copyright: All audio and visual content in this video is produced and copyrighted by Engines of War. Please do not copy or re-upload under any circumstances.