Fouga CM 170-1 Magister
Fouga · France · first flew 1952 · light aircraft
The Fouga CM 170-1 Magister is the standard production variant of France's landmark V-tailed jet trainer, powered by two Turbomeca Marboré IIA turbojets and built in larger numbers than any other Magister mark.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Twin Turbomeca Marboré IIA turbojets mounted in the wing roots beside the fuselage |
| T — Tail | V-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Distinctive V-tail (butterfly tail) is unique among jet trainers of its era — unmistakeable from any angle
- Twin Turbomeca Marboré IIA turbojets mounted in the wing roots beside the fuselage
- Shoulder-mounted straight wing; tandem seating under a long greenhouse canopy
The V-tail is the single most powerful recognition feature — no other Western jet trainer of the period used a butterfly tail configuration. Twin engine nacelles are integrated into the wing roots rather than podded under the wing or in the fuselage. The long greenhouse canopy over tandem seating gives it a graceful, slender appearance.
Specifications
- The Fouga CM 170-1 Magister has a length of 10.06 m (33 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.15 m (40 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 715 km/h (444 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The CM.170 Magister prototype first flew on 23 July 1952, becoming the world's first purpose-built jet trainer to enter production service. The CM 170-1 designation covers the initial production series with Marboré IIA engines; the later CM 170-2 Super Magister used the more powerful Marboré VI. Some 929 Magisters were built across all marks, serving with the French Armée de l'Air and 12 other nations including Israel, Finland, West Germany and Ireland.
Variants
CM 170-1 (Marboré IIA, this entry), CM 170-2 Super Magister (Marboré VI, more powerful), CM 175 Zéphyr (naval carrier-capable variant with strengthened undercarriage).
Where you'll see it
French Armée de l'Air as the primary advanced jet trainer from 1956; Israeli Air Force Magisters flew combat missions as light ground-attack aircraft in the 1967 Six-Day War and 1973 Yom Kippur War.
Related aircraft
- Fouga CM.88 Gémeaux
- Fouga CM 175 Zéphyr
- Beecraft Honey Bee
- Brochet MB.60
- Canadair CT-133 Silver Star
- Caproni Trento F-5
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.