Fouga CM.170 Magister - Israel - 1967

The first Fouga Magister arrived in Israel in 1957 and shortly later local license-manufacturing was started by IAI, with the aircraft named the IAI Tzukit. The first Tzukit was completed in 1959 and entered service in 1960. The Fougas served with the IAF's flight school, where they were used for both basic and advanced jet training.

In 1964, the flight school organized a fighting squadron, manned by school instructors and IAF reservists, to use the Magister as light attack aircraft in case of hostilities.
In the morning of the 5th of June 1967, at the dawn of the Six Day War, a formation of several Israeli Fouga Magister where flying a patroling mission over the Meditarrenean Sea reproducing the flight paths, speeds and altitude of the Israeli Mirage IIIs, which were normally performing these missions. The purpose of this was to deceive the Egyptian Air Defences and further give the impression that everything was the usual routine. Nevertheless, the Israeli Mirages (together with other aircraft types) were at that moment already flying undetected at very low altitude towards the Egyptian air bases, commencing the first bombing run of the Six Day War.

Later on the same day of the 5th of June 1967, 44 Fougas were used by the 147th Squadron as close support aircraft, attacking ground targets on the Sinai front with unguided missiles and bombs, while Israel's more capable combat aircraft were deployed on Operation Focus against Arab air bases. In the following days of the war, the Fougas were then deployed against Jordanian forces, including against armour on the West Bank. Fougas reportedly destroyed over 50 tanks and over 70 other armoured vehicles, helping in holding back Jordanian armour which had been advancing towards Jerusalem. The Fouga Magister proved effective in the close support mission, albeit sustaining heavy casualties in the process, with seven aircraft and six pilots recorded as having been lost during the Six Day War.

After the Six Day War, the Fougas were maintained in service as trainer aircraft, out of which the IAF Aerobatic Team was formed. In 1974, the Magisters were replaced by A-4 Skyhawks in the advanced jet training role, further keeping only their basic training role. By the beginning of the 1980s, a plan was devised to upgrade and refurbish the aircraft, extending their service life. The refurbished aircraft featured over 250 modifications, including new engines and a newly designed cockpit. By 1986, the majority of the Fougas had been upgraded to Zukit standard. All Fougas were subsequently replaced by the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II.