The Fouga CM.88 Gemeaux was a 1950s French engine test-bed aircraft produced by

Fouga Fouga (also known as Air Fouga) was a French manufacturing company established by Gaston Fouga at Béziers during 1920. Originally specialising in the repair of railway rolling stock, the firm eventually became most noted for the aircraft it pr ...

. 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 Safran Helicopter Engines, previously known as Turbomeca, is a French manufacturer of low- and medium-power gas turbine turboshaft engines for helicopters. The company also produces gas turbine engines for aircraft and missiles, as well as turbin ...

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 The Turbomeca Piméné was a small French turbojet engine produced by Turbomeca in the early 1950s.Gunston 1989, p. 170. First shown at the 1949 Paris Air Show this engine passed official type tests in 1950.

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)

turbojet engines, first flown 6 March 1951. ;Gemeaux II :Designation when powered by one 606 lb (275 kg)

Turbomeca Marboré I Safran Helicopter Engines, previously known as Turbomeca, is a French manufacturer of low- and medium-power gas turbine turboshaft engines for helicopters. The company also produces gas turbine engines for aircraft and missiles, as well as turbin ...

turbojet engine, first flown 16 June 1951. ;Gemeaux III :Designation when powered by one prototype 772 lb (350 kg) thrust

Turbomeca Marboré II Safran Helicopter Engines, previously known as Turbomeca, is a French manufacturer of low- and medium-power gas turbine turboshaft engines for helicopters. The company also produces gas turbine engines for aircraft and missiles, as well as turbin ...

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 The Turbomeca Aspin was a small French turbofan engine produced by Turbomeca in the early 1950s. This geared turbofan design was the first turbofan to fly, powering the Fouga Gemeaux test-bed aircraft on 2 January 1952.Gunston 1989, p. 169. Vari ...

turbofan engine, first flown on 6 November 1951. ;Gemeaux V :Final designation when powered by one 794 lb (360 kg) thrust

Turbomeca Aspin II The Turbomeca Aspin was a small French turbofan engine produced by Turbomeca in the early 1950s. This geared turbofan design was the first turbofan to fly, powering the Fouga Gemeaux test-bed aircraft on 2 January 1952.Gunston 1989, p. 169. Vari ...

turbofan engine, first flown on 21 June 1952.

Specifications (Gemeaux III)

References

* {{Fouga aircraft 1950s French experimental aircraft Gemeaux Twin-fuselage aircraft Single-engined jet aircraft V-tail aircraft

Design and development

Variants

Specifications (Gemeaux III)

See also

References