What is a Fouga Magister?

@richardms The Fouga CM.170 Magister is a 1950s French two-seat jet trainer aircraft, developed and manufactured by aircraft company Fouga.

What kind of aircraft is a magister?

In addition, the related CM.175 Zéphyr was a carrier-capable version developed and produced for the French Navy. While primarily operated as a trainer aircraft, the Magister was also frequently used in combat as a close air support platform by various operators.

When did Fouga develop the first trainer aircraft?

In 1948, development commenced at Fouga on a new primary trainer aircraft design that harnessed newly developed jet propulsion technology.

What was the magister used for in war?

While primarily operated as a trainer aircraft, the Magister was also frequently used in combat as a close air support platform by various operators. In the latter capacity, it saw action during the Six-Day War, the Salvadoran Civil War, the Western Sahara War, and the Congo Crisis.

The Fouga CM.170 Magister was developed to perform both basic and intermediate training activities. It is a compact, tandem seat aircraft with performance akin to larger, more powerful aircraft.

What is the history of the Fouga?

The first Fouga arrived in Israel in 1957 and shortly later local license-manufacturing was started by IAI, with the aircraft named the IAI Tzukit. The first Tzukit was completed in 1959 and entered service in 1960. The Fougas served with the IAF’s flight school, where they were used for both basic and advanced jet training.

Why did they stop making the magister?

During 1962, production of the Magister was terminated in France but continued to be constructed under licence in Finland up to 1967. The development of the aircraft had been brought to an end in response to the French Air Force selecting the rival Alpha Jet as its new jet trainer instead.