1/72 Heller Fouga Magister

by Patrick Heeren

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Silly Week 2008

 

By the end of the 1940's, jet aircraft where replacing the propeller driven aircraft with all the air Forces of the world.  Canada, also looking for replacement aircraft and finding them in the CF 100 Canuck of course needed some advanced jet trainers also.  At first T33 where loaned from the US.  In 1952 plans where made to buy trainers and several companies where contacted to start a license build of trainers in Canadian aircraft factory's.  One of these companies was the French company Fouga that was building a light weight and yet very versatile little aircraft to be known as the CM 170 Fouga Magister.  The prototype of this aircraft, build by Pierre Mauboussin, flew in 1952 and very soon production was started.  The aircraft appealed to the Canadian Army because of its high performance level and ease of maintenance.
Initially 5 where ordered and delivered in 1957 for evaluation.  This proved to be a winner and license agreements where made. The next batch of 25 aircraft was build at Canadair and became known as the CT 170 Magister.  The aircraft where first used by 15th Wing, 2nd Sqn at Moose Jaw in 1960 eventually replacing all the aging Harvards by 1964 and continuing serving into the 90's when they where replaced by the CT 155 Hawk.

In 1962 a display team was formed with 7 Harvards operated by flight instructors who performed a parody on the Golden Hawk's display.  The instructors said it was their view of how their students flew. When the Harvards where replaced by the Magisters in 1965, it seemed this would be the end of the Goldilocks but the public liked them so much and reaction to their disbandment was so overwhelming that they flew again the next year, this time using the CT 170 Magister.
They continued flying their humorist shows, eventually becoming the number one display team in Canada.
In 1992, celebrating their 30th Anniversary, the, until then, silver and gold Magisters where repainted in the colors of the original aircraft the team started out with.  Even the registrations of those Harvards where used again.
Today they are the only ones still using the now almost 50 years old Magister in the Canadian Air Force.

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

The kit is the Heller 1/72 Fouga Magister that builds up into a rather nice replica of this beautiful little aircraft.  Decals came from the Leading Edge "Goldilocks" decal sheet provided to me by my good friend Todd "Captain Canada" Pommerleau.  Who has send the entire sheet upon my request for the Canadian flags, that way "steering" me in the direction of this "alternative history" version of the Fouga Magister.

Thanks again Todd

Patrick
http://highandlow.topcities.com/

 

Photos and text © by Patrick Heeren