Fouga CM.88 Gemeaux explained
The Fouga CM.88 Gemeaux was a 1950s French engine test-bed aircraft produced by Fouga. An unusual aircraft, it was two aircraft joined by a common wing.
Design and development
To meet a requirement to use as an engined testbed for Turbomeca turbojets, Fouga combined two CM.8 fuselages. It used the port and starboard outerwings with a new wing centre section to join the two fuselages. The V-tails fitted to each fuselage were joined at the top in a W configuration. The type was designated the Fouga CM.88-R Gemeaux I and first flew 6 March 1951, it was fitted with two Turbomeca Piméné turbojets, one on top of each fuselage. Further variants were produced as the engine fit was changed.
Variants
- Gemeaux I
Original configuration with two 220 lb (100 kg) Turbomeca Piméné turbojet engines, first flown 6 March 1951.
- Gemeaux II
Designation when powered by one 606 lb (275 kg) Turbomeca Marboré I turbojet engine, first flown 16 June 1951.
- Gemeaux III
Designation when powered by one prototype 772 lb (350 kg) thrust Turbomeca Marboré II turbojet engine and first flown on 24 August 1951. A production version of the engine with 882 lb (400 kg) thrust was flown on 2 January 1952.
- Gemeaux IV
Designation when powered by one 441 lb (200 kg) thrust Turbomeca Aspin I turbofan engine, first flown on 6 November 1951.
- Gemeaux V
Final designation when powered by one 794 lb (360 kg) thrust Turbomeca Aspin II turbofan engine, first flown on 21 June 1952.References
- Book: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
