Fuel filter who could be deadly

A fouga Specialist installed a fuel filter on a Fouga located around the center of the United States.

When I went to just give a check on the aircraft, I found that the fuel filter bypass indicator was sticking out..
When we checked the fuel filter, the bypass was installed upside down.
We replaced the fuel filter with a new one, reset the bypass, safetied, and leak checked .

The big problem is if a filter bypass is installed upside down, engines at full power, will result a stop of fuel flow to the engines after 50 seconds.
So if after take off the full power was maintained on that aircraft, both engines would have stop after liftoff.

This is why the pilot have to check the fuel bypass indicator before each flight, for fuel contamination or if the fuel filter bypass was improperly installed after maintenance action.

Reference GCE 103-2 fiche analytique #2411

Weight and Balance

Sorry guys but all the fougas that I saw did not have a curent weight and balance.
Stall speed, spin recovery, take off and landing configuration....
It can be a problem and it could be deadly.
If you want some infos how to do the real weight and balance for the fouga and the envelope let me know.
A emergency check is to put a scale under the nose tire, have the main tanks full , and you should have a weight of +- 70lbs on the scale under the nose tire.
But you will be required to do a real and accurate weight and balance.

Cheap, usefull system, and emergency system

I installed on my PDA with GPS www.approach-systems.com/

On my Fouga's I can remove it from one and install on the other in seconds

Why spending $9,000.00 or more per Fouga when for $400.00 new or
+- $150 to $250.00 used you can have a glass cockpit.

For extra $20.00 you have a external antenna to pick up 12 satellites at the same time.

And when you perform aerobatics you do not loose the infos of your GPS

Last thing , in case of emergency you have it under your hand ( VSI, altimeter, airspeed indicator,....) and totaly independant of the aircraft systems.

Main hydraulic filter

Like the main fuel filter , the main hydraulic filter was made with paper so non cleanable.

I found a filter who with an adapter replacing perfectly the old hydraulic filter.

Either with the new filter it is written on it "non cleanable " but they are available.

What is the CM170 , super magister, CM173 or potez 94

This is the CM173 or Potez 94.

A lot of ads and articles are wrong. The CM173 was produced at only one and only one prototype.
He was equiped with 2 ejection seats and had Marbore Super VI engines with 530 kgs of thrust or 1170 lbs of thrust per engine. (derated Marbore VI)
Misprint in the books calling for 4800 kgs of thrust per engine or 10560 lbs of thrust per engine and copied from article to article.

With a total of 21120 lbs of thrust the CM173 would had the double power of the Mig 21 fishbed !!!!.

Be realistic and lets go back to earth.

What is called the super magister is simply the Fouga CM170 or CM170-2 with Marbore VI engines with 1056 lbs of thrust per engine produced at 137 units and used in France , Lebanon , Ireland .


The other Fouga CM170 have Marbore II engines with 400 kgs of thrust or 880 lbs of thrust per engine.


Now you know .

Article on fouga

by : David P Forsyth
Looking for the ultimate flying machine? Consider the CM-170 Fouga Magister. This twin jet, tandem seat, high performance fighter/trainer is a proven aerobatics machine. It has been used by the national aerobatics display teams of France, Germany, Belgium, Brazil, Finland, Ireland and Israel. Magisters have been thrilling crowds around the world for decades. These planes are now available for sale to civilian pilots for use in sport aviation and aerobatics exhibitions. The qualities which make these airplanes so attractive for sport aviation enthusiasts are their unique combination of performance, affordability, and styling. Just one look at these aircraft betrays their military heritage and functionality.
The Fouga Magister and the Super Fouga Magister (with more powerful engines) are fully aerobatic, being rated for 5.5 positive and 3 negative Gs. Its roll rate exceeds 200 degrees per second. A fuel boost system allows for more than 30 seconds of sustained inverted flight. The rate of climb in a Super Magister is close to 5,000 feet per minute. Service ceiling is over 40,000 feet. Maximum speed is 390 knots (Mach 0.82) and stall speed is only 78 knots. Speed brakes provide for rapid descents and easy go-arounds. Off-axis thrust allows for safe and efficient single engine operation. In short, the Fouga Magister is the realization of almost every pilot's dream of what recreational flying should be: fast, precise and exciting. The rear cockpit even lets you share the experience with special friends.
Affordability is always a major factor to consider for those seeking a recreational aircraft. There is a huge cost envelop in the market for sport aircraft. Purchase prices range from ten thousand dollar ultralights to multimillion dollar air racers and classics. Fouga Magisters can be purchased for under a hundred thousand USD. Super Fouga Magisters start at about $120,000. Another economic consideration for those seeking a high performance aircraft is operating cost. Even if you could afford (or were allowed) to buy an F-4 Phantom or F-14 Tomcat, the gas bill alone would probably put you in the poor house. But the fuel burn in a Magister can be as low as 110 gallons per hour. You also have many options for usable fuels in a Fouga. These first generation Marbore pure jets will run on almost anything, including Jet-A, JP-4, jet kerosene, for emergency : normal Aviation Gasoline, and even heating oil in a pinch. Thus a Fouga can be operated at the reasonable cost of several hundred dollars per hour. This is well within the means of many sport aviation pilots.
The Fouga also offers unique styling with its distinctive "V" tail and tandem cockpit configuration. The sleek fuselage gives the impression of a true jet fighter plane and this feeling is reinforced when you climb into the cockpit. The forward cockpit offers excellent visibility through the pressurized canopy. The articulated stick allows unrestricted control movement even for pilots with long legs. The rear cockpit is not elevated, so an optical periscope is installed to provide the back seater with a good view forward during take-off and landing (or bombing/gunnery runs). Other unusual features include a small recessed tail wheel to prevent damage from over-rotation on take-off or landing.
There are also "hands on throttle and stick" (HOTAS) controls for speed bakes and trim tabs (gun, rocket and bomb triggers can even be rewired to control add-ons such as a stereo or GPS system). For a first generation jet fighter/trainer the Fouga Magister is extremely advanced and pioneered many of the improvements found on more complex combat aircraft. The fact that these airplanes can now be affordably owned and flown by private pilots is great news for sport aviation enthusiasts.

Fouga history 1

Cost of Living 1954How Much things cost in 1954Yearly Inflation Rate USA 0.32% Yearly Inflation Rate UK 1.9% Average Cost of new house $10.250.00 Cost of a gallon of Gas 22 cents Average Cost of a new car $1,700.00 Average Monthly Rent $85.00 Movie Ticket 70 cents Life Magazine 20 cents

At today rate
35,000.00 GBP
51,591.56 USD in 1954
so new Cessna 172 who in 1956 at a price of $8,700.00

in 2008 cost $234,000.00 so a new Fouga today would cost around $1,387,620.00 at least.
A used Cessna C172 built in 1956 is selling today between $25,000.00 to $40,000.00

So with the price of the Fouga in 1954 it would bring the price today at $148,000.00

Why do you find some Fouga so cheap ?

Because they are not maintained like they are supposed to be.

If you find a Cessna C172 at $3,500.00 today , do you think that Cessna is complete , in perfect conditions and ready to fly ?

Fouga history 2

Incident Fouga

Bonjour à tous,
Suite à un incident récent survenu en vol sur un Fouga aux USA, je vous propose d’effectuer les opérations suivantes :
Nature de l’incident
Sortie de train « en secours » pour entrainement avant atterrissage, le demi train de voilure droit refuse de sortir.
Pression hydraulique normale, pas de fuite constatée.
Même refus en « normal ».
Après plusieurs tentatives infructueuses le train sort sous facteur de charge ( 3G's ), allumage des 3 vertes.
Ces manœuvres ont pris un certain temps, l’autonomie du Fouga est faible !!!, mais tout c’est bien terminé.
L’hypothèse la plus vraisemblable est le blocage du boitier d’accrochage du demi-train concerné. La raison est inconnue.
Proposition de contrôle :
Avion au sol, lors de la visite avant vol (voir manuel de maintenance fascicule courant GCE 103-2 fiche analytique N°1241), dans les compartiments de train, verrouillez en position fermée le crochet des 2 boitiers d’accrochage. Ce verrouillage s’effectue en 1 seconde en appuyant tout simplement sur le crochet jusqu’au clic de verrouillage.
En cabine avant, appuyer sur le poussoir secours train, puis pomper à la pompe à main jusqu’au déverrouillage des crochets que l’on perçoit très clairement.
Il est inutile de mettre la batterie sur marche.
Ne pas oublier de replacer le poussoir train secours sur « normal ».
Vérifier in situ le bon déverrouillage des crochets.
Cette opération permet de vérifier le bon fonctionnement :
du circuit hydraulique « secours ».
des boitiers d’accrochage des trains principaux.
De la pompe hydraulique « secours »
Nota1 : un graisseur existe sur le boitier d’accrochage, ne pas hésiter à effectuer le graissage au moins tous les trimestres !!!
Nota 2 : cette proposition n’a rien de contractuelle et n’engage en aucun cas son auteur. Chaque pilote est responsable de la visite près vol.
Christian Bérard
Directeur technique de l’AFFM

Why is it important to have the original engines logs

Because Turbomeca marbore II and VI had modifications required by the manufacturer.

If you do not have a record of thoses modifications attached with the originals engines logs you will take a big guess flying with that engine.

Exemple on the right picture of modifications done :

Corrosion on rear wing spar

During inspections corrosion was found at the rear spar on the left and right wing where the ailerons meet the wing with the fabric between the ailerons and the wings.
Some corrosion was so advanced that the wings needed to be replaced.
During your next inspection , check for corrosion.

Tool to reset mechanical disconnect

This is the tool used by Richard (fouga owner )to reset the mechanical disconnect for the generator inside the accessory gear box.
I was using safety wire but that paint can opener can do the job and they are free at Home Depot or some other paint shop.

Fuel filter

Fuel BP light on.
After replacing the fuel switch on the inverted fuel accumulator, having cleaned the main fuel filter on one fouga , the owner decided to replaced the Le Bozec fuel filter and... No more BP light on ( lamp tested and working ).

Airbus 320 or a Fouga avionics upgrade ?

The fouga serial numer 555 have received some avionics upgrade by http://www.aviationclassics.com/
On the fouga you are able to have so many information's that with the fuel on board ( fuel flow computer installed lower right corner ) you will not have time to check them all .
Weather update performed with Garmin 530 wasp ( upper center panel )
Now if you want to relax after having performed some aerobatic maneuvers safely ( tcas installed right side lower console ) , you can select on your screen your airport and the aircraft will go back to the pad by itself ( auto pilot upper right hand )to receive maintenance attention.
(photo Marc Dumont)

Leaking landing gear actuator/aileron servos / synchro boxes

Leaking landing gear actuators / aileron servos / synchro boxes for the flaps and speed brakes start to happen because thoses seals was not made in Viton and age catch up.

10 differents seals have to be replaced for 12 total on a main landing gear actuator

3 differents seals on a aileron servo for a total 10 seals

2 differents seals on a synchro box for a total of 9 seals

If you are interested let me know

Main Fuel Filter Le Bozec

Finaly I received the main fuel filters who can be cleaned. they are new / stainless / no paper /and now can be cleaned forever.

The spring and bypass pop out is not

included / use the one on your fouga

If you are interested place an order but quantity is limited. P/N 56606-1

Fuel filter

This is the 4th FOUGA that I checked and the bypass on the fuel filter or pop out was extended.

The bypass on the fuel filter need to be checked before each flight.

If the fuel filter is clogged, the pop out will extend and you could have down to the line the engines fuel filters who will clog ....

No need to explain you what could happen...

So for the safety check that bypass.