Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter
Data for the F-5A Freedom Fighter and F-5E Tiger II
Photo from Canadian Department of National Defence Homepage CF-116D Two Seat F-5
The F-5 series fighters were developed around the end of the 50's, as their name suggests, for sale to countries fighting for freedom, or just fighting. The F-5 was the ideal fighter to export to American friendly countries with limited defence budgets and limited airfields. The Tiger II is lightweight, relatively simple to fly and maintain, and gives incredible versatility. Some countries favour the F-5 as their frontline interceptor, other use it for ground attack, or a mix of both functions. In the US the F-5 never saw service in combat units, it was confirmed to the training role. The F-5 could closely simulate manoeuverability and tactics of MiG-21s and other Warsaw Pack fighters. F-5E Tiger and its twin seat cousin the F-5F have several advances over the A model which include a pair of wing-tip mounted AIM-9 Sidewinders, up rated engines, and an improved wing to enhance maueoverabilty. Back in the August 1982 the prototype of the next generation of F-5 flew under the name F-20 Tigershark. The Tigershark mated a General Electric GE F404 afterburning engine with an improved fuselage and canopy, and a Doppler pulse radar for AIM-7 Sparrow or Sky Flash AMMs. Unfortunately (for Northrop) the F-20, designed as an export fighter, failed to acquire a single order. The F-20 may well have proven an outstanding success, but we will never know.
A
Specifications
(Data for F-5E)
Origin: Northrop Corporatiom
Type: Light Tactical Fighter
Crew: Pilot
Powerplant: Two General Electric GE J85-21A afterburning turbojets each delivering 2 270 kg (5 000 lbs) of thrust
Dimensions
Span: 8.13 m (26 ' 8")
Height:
Length: 14.68 m (48' 2")
Weight (max loaded): 11 193 kg (27 676 lbs)
Performance
Maximum Speed: 1 734 kph (1 077 mph)
Cruising Speed: 904 kph (562 mph)
Climb Rate: 10 516 m (34 500 feet)/minute
Range: 2 863 km (1 779 miles)
Service Ceiling: 15 550 m (51 000 feet)
Armament
Two M39A2 guns each with 280 rounds & two AIM-9 Sidewinder AAMs on wingtip rails & an incredibly large range of ordnance
First Flight: August 11, 1972
User(s): US, & around 20 other air forces
Production: 1 300
Unit Cost: Lower than most fighters
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