FOUGA MAGISTER CM.170R

This 218 Fouga aircraft served with the Irish Air Corps (IAC) as a basic jet trainer from 1975 to 1999 and was donated to the Ulster Aviation Society by them.

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They were also often seen at Air Shows performing as ‘The Silver Swallows’ Aerobatic Display team from 1986 - 1997, initially having just three aircraft in 1986, but adding a fourth in 1987. 

The IAC had six aircraft in their Magister fleet by the end.

The 'Silver Swallows' Display team's Magister aircraft were drawn from the Light Strike Squadron of the 1st Support Wing, based in Baldonnel outside Dublin. Their international display debut was on July 26, 1990 at the Brawdy RAF base.

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The Gaelic text on the side of the aircraft reads "Beag ach fíochmhar" - "Small but fierce".

At their first and last ever visit to the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford in 1997, the team were winners of the Lockheed Martin Cannestra Trophy for Best Flying Demonstration by an Overseas Participant.

The Fouga spent many years in storage at Baldonnel Aerodrome outside Dublin but now joins the other two IAC aircraft, the Alouette Helicopter 202 and the Reims Rocket Cessna FR.172, 203.