The French Fouga CM.170 Magister was the second purpose-designed and serially produced jet training aircraft in the world (the first was the Dutch Fokker S.14 Machtrainer, built in only 21 examples), intended for training combat jet pilots. Its design was based on the Fouga CM.8 glider, on which trials with jet engines had been conducted.
In 1948, the Fouga company developed the two-seat CM.130 aircraft, powered by two Turbomeca Palas engines, which proved too weak. The design was modified to accommodate the larger Turbomeca Marbore II engines. In December 1950, the French Air Force ordered three prototypes, the first of which was flown in July 1952. Serial production of the CM.170-1 Magister version began in 1954. The first production examples entered service with the French Air Force in 1956. Distinctive features of the aircraft included the butterfly tail, developed in the 1930s by the Polish designer Jerzy Rudlicki, and a periscope providing the instructor with visibility from the rear cockpit. In 1959, the CM.175 Zephyr version, developed for the French naval aviation and adapted for carrier operations, entered service; 30 examples were produced. In 1960, production of the CM.170-2 Super Magister began, powered by higher-thrust Marbore IV engines. By 1962, 137 examples had been built.
These aircraft had underwing hardpoints for weapons, enabling them to perform ground attack missions. Other foreign operators included Belgium, Austria, Brazil, Ireland, Algeria, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Cambodia, Gabon, El Salvador, Togo, Morocco, Libya, Lebanon and Honduras. A total of 929 examples of all versions were produced. Fouga Magister aircraft took part in several armed conflicts. The first was the attempted secession of Katanga after the Congo gained independence in 1960. The secessionist forces had several Fougas at their disposal. Israeli Air Force Tzukits attacked Jordanian armoured forces during the Six-Day War in June 1967. During the Nigerian Civil War 1967-70, Biafran secessionist forces had five Magisters.
The Fouga Magister attracted the interest of air forces of many countries. The first foreign operator was the Federal Republic of Germany, which purchased 62 aircraft from France, and a further 188 were produced under licence at the Flugzeug Union Süd plant. Licensed production was also undertaken at the Valmet plant in Finland, where 62 examples were built between 1958 and 1967. At the IAI plant, 36 examples were produced under licence under the designation IAI Tzukit.
| Wingspan | 12.15 m (with wingtip tanks) |
| Length | 10.06 m |
| Takeoff weight | 3 200 kg |
| Maximum speed | 715 km/h |
| Ceiling | 11 000 m |
| Range | 925 km |
| Armament | 2 machine guns cal. 7.5 mm or 7.62 mm, and underwing ordnance up to 140 kg on two hardpoints (bombs, rockets) |
| Engine | two Turbomeca Marbore IIA turbojet engines with 3.9 kN thrust |
