Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-5>HA3358
Northrop Grumman F-5F Tiger II 160964, US NAVY, 1977
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
Northrop Grumman F-5F Tiger II 160964 was originally manufactured as 75-0753 for the
USAF. In 1976 10 F-5E and 3 F-5F aircraft were transferred to the USN Fighter Weapons
School (NFWS) “Top Gun” located NAS Miramar. The school was used to train pilots in the
finer techniques of aircraft combat flying. This aircraft was given a three-tone blue paint
scheme with a white 46 painted on the side of the nose. In early 1990 the USMC wanted
used F-5s for their aggressor program so 160964 was transferred in March 1990.
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) |