Fancy a flight in a Fouga?

Sad news indeed 🙁

Sad to see that another Magister (F-AZZE) crashed with the loss of the two aboard a couple of days ago
http://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/08/06/two-people-killed-in-fouga-magister-crash/

But unless I’ve got that wrong, you need a PPL to go on ‘a course’ which is rather different from turning up at Niort Aerodrome, stumping up 2500€ and having a ‘joy ride’ in a Fouga Magister!

I’m getting very confused. However I don’t find that difficult nowadays! But hopefully someone more knowledgeable can help me out of my confusion. I believe that I’ve read, repeatedly, that short of a good deal of guile and a great deal of money, you can’t get a ‘joyride’ in a two seater Spitfire in the UK. But recent posts suggest that this is not the case for a Fouga Magister or a Jet Provost. Is there something that differentiates here? Is it not a case of the aircraft type but the purpose for which it’s certified by the CAA? Is it that the Magister and the Jet Provost mentioned were/are certified to carry passengers and that none of the two seat Spitfires are? Or have I just got completely the wrong end of the stick!

Training is now allowed, and there is a Company doing it with a Spit. Though you may find others offering similar

See

http://www.boultbeeflightacademy.co.uk/

I suspect the problem is Insurance. Although why this should be a bigger issue in certain types of aircraft, who knows ?.

Confused of France!

I’m getting very confused. However I don’t find that difficult nowadays! But hopefully someone more knowledgeable can help me out of my confusion. I believe that I’ve read, repeatedly, that short of a good deal of guile and a great deal of money, you can’t get a ‘joyride’ in a two seater Spitfire in the UK. But recent posts suggest that this is not the case for a Fouga Magister or a Jet Provost. Is there something that differentiates here? Is it not a case of the aircraft type but the purpose for which it’s certified by the CAA? Is it that the Magister and the Jet Provost mentioned were/are certified to carry passengers and that none of the two seat Spitfires are? Or have I just got completely the wrong end of the stick!

Vampire predates the JP!

Vampire, T33 and Fouga are the same sort of era.

Bruce

€2550 Euros!!
€2000 more then flying a JP in the UK.

Anyway wasn’t the JP the first jet trainer?

Neil

I remember a G-FUGA based at Gamston, was offering rides at £250 for 30 mins. My group brought all the T-shirts, patches etc but everytime we called for our trip he was always out the country.

Shame you didn’t get a flight in her, I went from East Midlands to the Leuchars airshow in her for the weekend and back, high level there and low level back.

It was predated by the Lockheed T-33.

Yes, but the T-33 was derived from the F-80. The Fouga was the first to be specifically designed as a trainer.

@Aviation Ancien: they will probably have had some flights booked on that day from that airfield. Hence why they were there.

Well, I’m still mystified as to why it was at Niort last Saturday and advertising its wares by means of an A4 typed notice taped to one wing tip. Maybe not the most advanced marketing technique!

It was the world’s first mass produced jet trainer…

It was predated by the Lockheed T-33.

I’d love a flight in one, and with his record of accomplishments, I’d certainly
trust the PIC (something I put at the top of the list when in warbirds, especially jet warbirds).

And it never was in Thunder city.

I realise that 😉 I meant it still lists other aircraft flights, including those at Thunder City.
I assume the people operating that website are agents for those wanting a flying experience in
various countries.

Ah well, at those prices it’s a good job that I’d had a rather good lunch instead on Saturday! I’m sure that it’s a fair price and good value. It’s just that my pockets aren’t that deep.

But as an aside, would the Fouga be able to offer in the UK the same as it does in France and if not, why is that?

I remember a G-FUGA based at Gamston, was offering rides at £250 for 30 mins. My group brought all the T-shirts, patches etc but everytime we called for our trip he was always out the country.

With today’s prices for jet fuel, that wouldn’t even pay the taxi to the runway!
G-FUGA was an ex-French Fouga that flew in the UK in the early ’90’s if I remember correctly. It was exported to the Netherlands. There it flew under a French reg with the DHJA. It made a gear-up landing 4-5 years ago and is now in the Soesterberg museum reserve painted as a Belgian example.
Do you still have a patch?

I remember a G-FUGA based at Gamston, was offering rides at £250 for 30 mins. My group brought all the T-shirts, patches etc but everytime we called for our trip he was always out the country.

Those prices are about right, I think. And it never was in Thunder city. It is stationed at Beauvais, although sometimes they operate from other airports in France and Belgium. A flight is absolutely worth the money though. I can highly recommend it. I have flown flown in both civil and military Fouga’s and it’s an amazing aircraft. Both easy to fly and fully aerobatic. And yes, dual control 😉
It was the world’s first mass produced jet trainer and was also used as a light attack aircraft by many Air Forces (Israel, katanga,.. )

Prices here, don’t know how up to date they are ?

http://www.flyfighterjet.name/fly-fighter-jet-fouga-magister.html

As it still lists the aircraft at Thunder City, it’s a little out of date.

Would somebody just post the price :p

Does the Magister have dual control ?

Perhaps the RAF could offer flights in service aircraft to the general public ?

Rather than just celebrities :rolleyes: