- Yes
- No
Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today, I am presenting a new French trainer aircraft prototype: the Fouga 90, also known as the CM.90.
In the late 1960s, Aérospatiale began studying a new generation of military trainer aircraft based on the successful Fouga CM.170 Magister. By this time, the Magister had become one of France’s most recognizable training aircraft, but its design was already beginning to show its age. Aérospatiale therefore sought to modernize the concept while retaining some of the characteristics that had made the Magister such a success.
The resulting project was designated Fouga 90, or CM.90. Although it immediately looked familiar thanks to its distinctive V-tail, straight wings, and tandem two-seat cockpit, it was in reality a substantially redesigned aircraft. One of the most noticeable changes was the cockpit, which was raised considerably to provide the instructor in the rear seat with much better forward visibility. This was particularly important for a trainer, as it allowed the instructor to monitor the aircraft’s surroundings and the student’s actions more effectively.
The propulsion system was also significantly improved. The original Magister’s engines were replaced by more modern and economical powerplants, providing greater performance while reducing fuel consumption. The aircraft was also designed with a more flexible weapons capability, with four hardpoints instead of the two available on the original Magister.
The design was finalized during the late 1970s, and the prototype made its maiden flight in 1978. Following its first flights, the aircraft was transferred to the Centre d’Essais en Vol (CEV), where it underwent an extensive evaluation program as part of the search for a new trainer for the French Air Force. During these trials, the Fouga 90 was tested in several configurations, including various armament arrangements intended to demonstrate its potential as a weapons-training and light-attack aircraft.
The aircraft reportedly performed well during its evaluation, demonstrating that the basic Magister concept could still be developed into a modern and capable trainer. However, Aérospatiale ultimately failed to secure the French requirement. The Air Force selected the Embraer Tucano instead, bringing an end to the Fouga 90 program before production could begin.
Despite losing the competition, Aérospatiale did not immediately abandon the project. The Fouga 90 was displayed at several editions of the Paris Air Show in an attempt to attract foreign customers and demonstrate its capabilities on the international market. Unfortunately, no foreign operator placed an order, and the sole prototype remained the only Fouga 90 ever built.
Characteristics
Length : 10.38 m
Width : 12.04 m
Height : 2.80 m
Mass :
- Empty : 2 409 kg
- Max : 4 200 kg
The aircraft is powered by two Turbomeca Astafan IIG engines, enabling it to reach a maximum speed of 640 km/h (at 4,600 m) and a service ceiling of 12,195 m. It has an endurance of three hours, allowing it to cover a range of nearly 2,000 km.
The crew consists of two people: a student pilot in the front seat and an instructor in the rear seat.
Weapons
The aircraft’s armament is particularly noteworthy; unlike the Magister, which had only two hardpoints, the Fouga 90 features four, allowing for a wider variety of payloads and enabling it to perform a broader range of missions. The maximum authorized payload is 800 kg.
Bombs :
- SAMP Type 21 (2x1 400kg bomb)
- SAMP Type 21 200 (2x1 400kg bomb)
- SAMP Type 25 (4x1 250kg bomb)
- SAMP Type 25 200 (4x1 250kg bomb)
- BAP 100 (2x6 anti runway bomb)
- BAT 120 (2x6 tactical bomb)
Rockets :
- Matra Type 116M (4 x 19 68mm rockets)
- Matra Type 116M (4 x 18 68mm rockets)
Missiles :
- AS-11 (2x1)
- AS-12 (2x1)
Guns :
- 2 x 2 12.7mm machine gun pod
- 2 x 7.5 mm machine gun (in the noze)
- 1 x 30 mm canon (in the noze) The 30mm cannon project aimed to replace the forward-mounted machine guns with the cannon; however, the weapon took up so much space that one of the pilot seats had to be removed to accommodate the ammunition.
In-game, this aircraft would be a particularly interesting addition to the French tree, providing a combat aircraft with significant ground-attack capabilities; this would help round out the French tree, which currently lacks an aircraft of this type at a low Battle Rating.
