Potez CM-170 Fouga "Magister"

The French CM. 170 Fouga "Magister" was the most manufactured jet trainer in a series was. In 1950, the French airplane company "Air Fouga" suggested a project to the Armée de l'Air for a subsonic trainer aircraft powered by two Turboméca-"Marboré" jet engines. In 1958, the company "Air Fouga" was overtaken by Potez that was in cooperation with Sud Aviation in 1967.

The first prototype flew in July 1952. Two further prototypes followed along with ten pre-series aircrafts. The first series aircraft of model CM.170 "Magister" first lifted off in February 1956. The first assembly line production yielded 95 units.

Until 1970, 929 "Magister" aircrafts were constructed and delivered to twelve countries. 286 copies were completed under license. The German customers received 250 units, Israel (52), Finland (82), Austria (18), Brazil (seven) and Ireland (six).

The Israeli Air Force utilized the trainer as a fighter airplane. During the Six Day War, the aircrafts flew for deployment purposes and in battle. Shortly before the outbreak of the conflict, the aircrafts had an ejector seat installed which were not available in the CM. 170-1 series. Until 1980, all pilots of the Israeli Air Force were trained by this model and the A-4 Skyhawk was later utilized for fighter aircraft training. However, the Fouga Magister was still useful. After structural errors were detected in the Israeli aircrafts, the Israeli Aircraft Industry modernized the CM.170. The IAI Zukit exhibited 250 alterations of the initial version. Until today, the model serves for pilot training in the Israeli Air Force. An adequate replacement was not acquired due to lack of finances.

Until today, the Fouga Magister can be found in the Irish Air Force, the Irish Air Corps, being used as an advanced trainer as well as a war plane. The aerobatic aircraft "Silver Swallows" is used as a trainer aircraft. The Belgian Air Force uses this model as well.

In Germany, the CM.170R, the aircraft Union Süd, was licensed to be constructed both by Messerschmitt AG and Heinkel Aircraft Construction GmbH. The Federal Ministry of Defense had divided the license-order between both companies in 1956. Messerschmitt AG's factory in Augsburg constructed the fuselage and the machinery, the Factory in Riem concerned itself with the rear assembly and the approach corridor. The Heinkel Factory in Speyer completed the wings, the empennage, landing gears, ailerons and the top of the fuselage. As "initial help", the French licenser overtook construction for 22 aircrafts. By 1958, the aircraft Union Süd delivered the first CM.170 to the Air Force, the last of a total of 194 in March 1961. Until 1970, the company constructed the trainers for the Federal Air Force in Manching. By the end of the 1960s, the training of the Federal Air Force pilots was taking place in the USA and the German Federal Armed Forces exempted these machines from military service. Many of these aircrafts went to Algeria.

The French aerobatic aircraft "Patrouille de france" and CM.170 "Magister" were used until the alpha jets were changed. Today these aircrafts adorn the entrance area of the French Air and Space Museum in Le Bourget.

By the 1980s, the "Magister" was slowly replaced by the Alpha Jet in the French Armée de l'Air. Many aircrafts were reused in other countries. Today there are approximately 380 "Magister" aircrafts in air forces of 14 different countries.

The fuselage of the CM. 170 "Magister" was designed in an entirely metal half-shell construction with an oval cross-section. Two seats were situated in the pressurized cabin for double steering. There were two fuel tanks in the fuselage. The cantilever biplane was constructed entirely from metal in a half-shell shape and had lift valves and retractable air brakes on the over- and underside as well as tanks. The V-shaped empennage has an opening of 110 degrees. The chassis wheel is hydraulically retractable and there is a controllable wheel on the nose and a hydraulic break on the main wheels.

A variation of the CM.170, the CM.175 "Zephyr" model, was used by the French Marines between 1956 and 1995 for training purposes. 32 copies of the "Zephyr" were constructed until 1961.

In 1963, the model "Super Magister" was constructed. This aircraft, also known as CM.173, had strong engines, a new fuselage and ejector seat. 137 copies were constructed between 1963 and 1968 and flown in France, Ireland and Lebanon.

Further versions were the CM.171 and CM.191, of which only prototypes were constructed and equipped with Turboméca Gabizo engines with 110 kilograms thrust. Heinkel and Potez developed the four-seater travel aircraft together. It remained as a prototype which flew for the first time in March 1962. Likewise, the Fouga 90 was also a prototype. The prototype was equipped with a Turboméca Astafan IIG engine with 700 kilograms each as well as a new cockpit and radio equipment system and flew for the first time on August 1978. No other units were constructed.

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