F-BTTF Air Inter Dassault Mercure 100 seen departing London Heathrow on runway 28R - a rare visitor indeed

Rare visitor to Heathrow
One of the eleven Dassault Mercures that Air Inter operated from 1975 until 1995 - seen here about to lift off from runway 28R at Heathrow. Photo snatched from the top level of either Car Park 1A or Car Park 3.

<b<A rare bird at Heathrow :) Only twelve Mercures were built, including two prototypes, and Air Inter was the only operator. They already looked out of date by the time I took this photograph, but as mentioned above, they continued flying with the airline well into the 1990s. I have no idea what a Mercure was doing visiting Heathrow - the only one I ever saw there! [See helpful comments below]

F-BTTF c/n 006 - Mercure 100 - was delivered new to Air Inter in November 1974 and flew with the airline for its entire life until 1995. The aircraft was withdrawn and stored at Merignac Airport, Bordeaux for possible preservation? More on the Dassault Mercure here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mercure

Taken with a Soviet made Zenith E camera and 300mm lens.

You can see a random selection of my aviation photos here: flickriver.com/photos/heathrowjunkie/random/

Taken in: United Kingdom / England / London / Heathrow (show map)

Taken on: August 1, 1979

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