Fouga CM.88 Gémeaux
Fouga · France · first flew 1951 · light aircraft
The Fouga CM.88 Gémeaux was a French experimental twin-jet aircraft created by fitting two small Turbomeca jet engines to a modified glider airframe, featuring the V-tail configuration that would later define the famous CM.170 Magister trainer.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Twin-fuselage layout — two CM.8 sailplane fuselages joined at the wing |
| T — Tail | V-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-jet experimental glider conversion with distinctive butterfly V-tail
- Twin-fuselage layout — two CM.8 sailplane fuselages joined at the wing
- Early jet research aircraft from Fouga, precursor to the Magister
Highly distinctive — a long-span glider fuselage fitted with two underslung jet pods and a pronounced V-tail in place of conventional fin and tailplane; unmistakable as a research prototype.
Specifications
- The Fouga CM.88 Gémeaux has a length of 6.66 m (22 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.76 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 249 km/h (155 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Built in the late 1940s and first flown in 1951, the Gémeaux served as a testbed for the V-tail design and jet propulsion at low speeds. Its success directly led to the development of the CM.170 Magister jet trainer.
Variants
The CM.88 was a one-off research aircraft; it was not produced in series.
Where you'll see it
The Gémeaux served in a pure research capacity for the French aviation industry; it did not enter operational service.
Related aircraft
- Fouga CM 170-1 Magister
- Fouga CM 175 Zéphyr
- AISA I-11
- de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter
- de Havilland Chipmunk Mk 20
- Fiat G.46-4A
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