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/
|
|