Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-5>HA3354

General Background

The Northrop F-5 tactical fighter was designed as an extremely maneuverable, supersonic fighter with a high rate of reliability at a low operating cost. The F-5 first flew on July 30, 1959 with the first customer delivery in 1964. The last of more than 2,600 F-5’s was produced in 1989 and about two-thirds of these are still in service with 26 countries more than 4 decades later. The F-5 was manufactured by Northrop Grumman and under license in Canada, Taiwan, South Korea, Spain and Switzerland.

The Aircraft

Swiss Air Force F-5F J-3211 was manufactured in 1981 as c/n M-1011 / 81-0862 and was delivered to the Swiss Air Force June 18, 1984. In total the Swiss received 98 F-5E single- seaters and 12 F-5F two-seaters. After several years of service major cracks began to show in some of these aircraft. There has been much debate over which aircraft will be purchased to replace the F-5s and the Tiger II will be operated until 2018. The 16th Squadron operates four F-5Fs from Payerne AB in western Switzerland.

Specifications :

Specification for the Northrop F-5E/ F-5F Tiger II
Number Built:	1,400 + E/F
Role F-5F:	Two-seat Combat Trainer Version Of The F-5E Tiger II
Dimensions
Length (F-5E):	47 feet 4.75 inch (14.65 m)
Length (F-5F):	51 feet 4 inch (15.65 m)
Wingspan F-5E & F-5F:	26 ft 8 in)
Height (F-5E):	13 feet 4 inch (4.06 m)
Height (F-5F):	13 feet 1.75 inch (4.01 m)
Weight
Empty Weight (F-5E):	9,723 lb (4,410 kg)
Empty Weight (F-5F):	10,576 lb (4,797 kg)
Max Take-off Weight (F-5E):	24,722 lb (11,214 kg)
Max Take-off Weight (F-5F):	25,152 lb (11,409 kg)
Performance
Powerplant:	2 x General Electric J85-GE-21B Turbojets With 5,000 lb.s.t. With Afterburning
Maximum Speed F-5E:	Mach 1.64 @ 36,000 ft
Maximum Speed F-5F:	Mach 1.55 @ 36,000 ft
Range (F-5E):	1,545 nm (2,863 km)
Range (F-5F):	1,270 nm (2,353 km)
Service Ceiling (F-5E):	51,800 ft (15,780 m)
Service Ceiling (F-5F):	50,800 ft (15,484 m)
Max Rate of Climb (F-5E):	34,500 feet/min
Max Rate of Climb (F-5F):	32,900 feet/min
Armament	1 x In-Nose 20mm M39A2 Cannon With 140 Rounds
	2 x AIM-9 Sidewinder Missiles On Wing Tips
	5 x Pylons Capable Of Carrying Up To 7,000 lbs. Of Ordnance Or Fuel
	1 x Under Fuselage Center-line
	4 x Under Wing (2/Wing)