Fouga-Magister

FOUGA-MAGISTER AIRPLANE
State Medal 5763/2003
9th in the “Airplanes that Made History” Series

This series of medals commemorates the airplanes of the Israeli Air Force. Each one made its mark on the history of the country and is associated with its specific period of operation. The planes have been reproduced in precise detail on the medals, designed by Eliezer Weishoff, in consultation with the Public Committee headed by the former Commander of the Air Force, Major General Eitan Ben Eliahu.
This medal is dedicated to the Fouga-Magister Airplane, a twin-engine, jet powered plane that was developed in France by the French Jew Shidlovsky. It was delivered to the Israeli Air Force Flight School in 1960 by “Bedek Aircraft”, later to become the Israel Aircraft Industry, and became the standard training plane. The plane’s long wings and butterfly tail made it the symbol of aerobatic flights. During the 1980’s the plane was upgraded, the engine was replaced and additional technical improvements were installed until it became an almost completely new aircraft – the Magister – still in operation.

Obverse: The Fouga-Magister in flight with the cliffs of the Negev in the background; the words “FOUGA-MAGISTER” appear in Hebrew along the upper border and in English along the lower border of the medal.

Reverse: A stylized design of a bird in flight with the hills of Jerusalem above it and the Israeli Air Force emblem below it; the verse “HIS WINGS SHALL FILL THE BREADTH OF THY LAND” (Isaiah 8) is inscribed in Hebrew along the upper border of the medal and in English along the lower border. The silver/925 proof medal is with gold-plated sterling silver insert and the bronze proof medal is with sterling silver insert.

Edge: State emblem with the words "STATE OF ISRAEL" inscribed in Hebrew on the right and in English on the left; serial number.

Designer: Eliezer Weishoff.

Engraving: Romania.

Mint:
Bronze and Silver medals: Romania.
Gold medal: The Government Mint, Israel.