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The Northrop F-5A and F-5B Freedom Fighter and the F-5E and F-5F Tiger II are part of a supersonic light fighter family, initially designed in the late 1950s by Northrop Corporation. Being smaller and simpler than contemporaries such as the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, the F-5 cost less to both procure and operate, making it a popular export aircraft. The F-5 started life as a privately funded light fighter program by Northrop in the 1950s. The design team wrapped a small, highly aerodynamic fighter around two compact and high-thrust General Electric J85 engines, focusing on performance and low cost of maintenance. Though primarily designed for the day air superiority role, the aircraft is also a capable ground-attack platform. The F-5A entered service in the early 1960s. During the Cold War, over 800 were produced through 1972 for U.S. allies. Though the USAF had no acknowledged need for a light fighter, it did procure roughly 1,200 Northrop T-38 Talon trainer aircraft, which were directly based on the F-5A.
After winning the International Fighter Aircraft competition in 1970, a program aimed at providing effective low-cost fighters to American allies, Northrop introduced the second-generation F-5E Tiger II in 1972. This upgrade included more powerful engines, higher fuel capacity, greater wing area and improved leading edge extensions for a better turn rate, optional air-to-air refueling, and improved avionics including air-to-air radar. Primarily used by American allies, it remains in US service to support training exercises. It has served in a wide array of roles, being able to perform both air and ground attack duties; the type was used extensively in Vietnam. A total of 1,400 Tiger IIs were built before production ended in 1987. More than 3,800 F-5 and the closely related T-38 advanced trainer aircraft were produced in Hawthorne, CA. The F-5N/F variants are in service with the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps as an adversary trainer. Approximately 500 aircraft are in service as of 2014.
The Canadair CF-5 (officially designated the CF-116 Freedom Fighter) is the Canadair licensed-built version of the American Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter aircraft primarily for the Canadian Forces (as the CF-5) and the Royal Netherlands Air Force (as the NF-5). The CF-5 was upgraded periodically throughout its service career in Canada. The Canadian Forces retired the type in 1995, although CF-5s continue to be used by other countries.
Below is a partial list of surviving airframes.
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59-4987 (D-16) 59-4988 (P-16) 59-4989 (D-16) 63-8371 (D-16) 63-8393 (D-16) 63-8405 (D-16) 63-8438 (D-16) 63-8441 (S-16) 64-13326 (D-16) 66-9159 (D-16) 66-9170 (D-15) 66-9207 (D-16) 66-9220 (D-16) 67-14905 (?-16) 68-9071 (D-16) 68-9085 (?-95) 69-7101 (?-08) 69-7134 (D-16) 69-7156 (D-11) 69-7170 (D-16) 72-1387 (D-16) 72-0441 (D-16) 73-0852 (D-16) 73-0878 (D-15) 74-0776 (D-16) 74-0966 (D-09) 74-0978 (D-16) |
74-0980 (D-16) 74-0982 (D-16) 74-0985 (D-16) 74-0994 (D-08) 74-0995 (D-15) 74-0997 (D-16) 74-1533 (D-16) 74-1537 (D-16) 74-1556 (D-16) 74-1558 (D-16) 74-1564 (D-16) 75-0318 (D-16) 75-0322 (?-16) 75-0330 (D-16) 75-0355 (D-16) 75-0358 (D-16) 75-0368 (D-16) 76-0485 (D-16) 76-0490 (D-16) 76-1618 (D-16) 76-1624 (D-16) 76-1625 (D-16) 76-1636 (D-16) 76-1638 (D-11) 77-0334 (D-16) 77-0339 (D-16) |
77-0343 (D-16) 80-0304 (D-16) 83-0127 (D-16) AR9-053 (D-11) 116704 (D-16) 116707 (D-16) 116748 (D-16) 116757 (D-16) 116763 (D-16) 116818 (?-16) 116820 (A-16) 116821 (A-16) 116823 (?-16) 116824 (?-16) 116831 (?-16) 116832 (D-07) 116833 (D-16) 116835 (?-16) 116836 (?-16) 116837 (?-16) 116839 (D-16) 116840 (?-16) 116841 (?-16) 116845 (?-16) 116846 (?-16) |
WARBIRD REGISTRY > JET REGISTRY > FREEDOM FIGHTER > PREVIOUS PAGE