Fouga CM.175 Zéphyr

The Fouga Zéphyr (company designation CM.175) was a 1950s French two-seat carrier-capable jet trainer for the French Navy. It was developed from the land-based CM.170 Magister. It was replaced in 1994.

CM.175 Zéphyr
A Fouga CM.175 Zéphyr in French Navy colours
Role Carrier-capable jet trainer
National origin France
Manufacturer Fouga
First flight 31 July 1956 (as CM.170M)
Introduction 1959
Retired 1994
Primary user French Navy
Number built 32
Developed from Fouga CM.170 Magister
Fouga CM.175 Zéphyr at Toulon-Hyères Airport

Design and development

The French Navy's Aéronavale adopted a derivative of the Fouga CM.170-1 Magister as a basic trainer for carrier operations.[1] Originally designated CM-170M Esquif, the prototype first flew on 31 July 1956, and was redesignated as the CM.175 Zéphyr soon after. Carrier trials were conducted from HMS Eagle (R05) and HMS Bulwark (R08) off the French coast in august 1957 and march 1958.[1]

The Zéphyr differed from the Magister in being equipped with an arrester hook and a modified structure and undercarriage strengthened for carrier operations.[1] The Zéphyr also included a nose-mounted light. As it did not have ejection seats, the Zéphyr had new sliding canopy hoods which could be locked open during carrier launchings and landings. One six-round rocket pod could be mounted under each wing for weapons training. Two guns could be fitted in the nose, but these were seldom carried. Thirty-two aircraft were delivered.[1]

Operational history

The first production aircraft first flew on 30 May 1959 and entered service in October 1959 with 59S the deck landing school at Hyéres. The squadron used only 14 aircraft at a time with the others being kept in short-term storage and periodically rotated to even out the flying hours. In 1962 the unit formed an aerobatic team using the Zéphyr called the Patrouille de Voltige d'Hyéres.

Variants
  • CM-170M Esquif - prototype; 2 built.
  • CM.175 Zéphyr - production version; 30 built.

Operators
 France

Specifications (CM.175)
Orthographic projection of the Fouga Magister.
Fouga CM.175 Zéphyr at Toulon-Hyères Airport
Fouga CM.175 Zéphyr at Toulon-Hyères Airport

Data from Carrier Aviation Air Power Directory [1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 10.06 m (33 ft 0 in)
  • Wingspan: 12.15 m (39 ft 10 in) (with wingtip fuel tanks)
  • Height: 2.80 m (9 ft 2 in)
  • Wing area: 17.30 m2 (186.2 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 2,150 kg (4,740 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 3,200 kg (7,055 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Marboré IIA turbojets, 3.92 kN (882 lbf) thrust each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 715 km/h (444 mph, 386 kn) at 9,000 m (30,000 ft)
  • Range: 925 km (575 mi, 499 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,000 ft)

Armament

  • 2 x 7.5 mm or 7.62 mm machine guns (seldom carried)
  • Up to 100 kg (220 lb) of weapons on two underwing hardpoints.

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. Donald, David; Daniel J. March (2001). Carrier Aviation Air Power Directory. Norwalk, CT: AIRtime Publishing. pp. 123–124. ISBN 1-880588-43-9.
  • Kopenhagen, W., ed. Das große Flugzeug-Typenbuch. Stuttgart, Germany: Transpress, 1987. ISBN 3-344-00162-0.
  • Jackson, Paul A, French Military Aviation Leicester, England: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. ISBN 0-904597-17-2.
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