F-5 Freedom Fighter | Best of Aviation Series Documentary

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The Northrop F5 Freedom Fighter is a small, highly aerodynamic and maneuverable jet which was built around two compact and high thrust General Electric J85 engines. The F-5 was designed from the ground up to be an easy to maintain, simple to fly, inexpensive multirole fighter. With its origins dating back to the 1950s the F-5 has stood the test of time, it has become a popular export aircraft and is still used today by the United states as an adversary or aggressor aircraft. Today we will be taking a look at the first two variants, the F-5A and B, also known as the Freedom Fighter. Here are some specifications for the F-5ALength 47.2 ft (14.37 m)Height 13.2 ft (4.01 m)Wingspan 25.8 ft (7.87 m)Maximum Speed: 925 mph (Mach 1.4)Empty weight: 8,805 lbs (3,667 kg)Max T/O weight: 20,677 lb (9,379 kg)Engine Thrust Class Each: 2,270 lbf (12.1kN) thrust dry, 4,080 lbf (18.1kN) with afterburnerArmament: The F-5A has two internally mounted 20mm cannons in the fuselage nose and can carry two heat seeking sidewinder missiles on the wingtips.Additionally, the F-5 has five pylons which can be used to carry up to 6200 pounds of ordinance or fuel tanks. Loads can include four more air to air missiles, air to surface missiles, bombs, unguided rockets, or external fuel tanks. During the Vietnam War, F-5s were evaluated with virtually every weapons system of its time and pilots along with Forward Air Controllers reported that the jet was fast and possessed uncanny accuracy for delivering bombs on target. The choice weapon during that war was the Mk 117 750 lb bomb, which could destroy just about any target it was tasked to suppressing.

Part of the best of aviation series, this is part 1 in a documentary about the F-5

Attributions/Credits:
F-5 M-39 cannon:

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T-33 Photo:Alejandro Pena / Public domainT-38 Painting"A T-38 Talon Turning Up" Artist: Jim Auckland, US Air Force Art Collection photography

aviation aviator flying plane

[jokerzwild]

I always imagined the F-5 as being like the Miata of the sky. Not the most powerful thing out there but light, nimble and fun as hell.

[MiguelRodriguez-nteq]

The F5's design is timeless, it looks very modern today.

[AlVineGreatoutdoors]

I worked on the T 38 from 67 to 71. I attended a special school on t38 f5 maintenence at Shepard AFB in Witchatah falls Texas. I was run-up and taxi qualified. I knew everything about the aircraft and was tdy to many bases to assist with problems. I had plans on going to work at Northrop when I got out of the air Force. But like you said, the program came to a halt before I got out. During a Christmas holiday we got to fly with the instructors. I learned how to land and fly in two flights. The are very easy to fly and an awesome aircraft.

[joshm]

The F-5, F-20, F-18 are my all time favorite fighter line. Absolutely brilliant little fighter that with continuous upgrades is still relevant today.

[CobraOneTwelve]

Love this video! My grandfather was an F-5A pilot for the Philippine Air Force back in the 70s and early 80s!

[charlesx]

Back in 1964 when I was 9yrs old, the f5 was the very first airplane model I ever bought and put together using cement glue. I remember being pretty proud of the work that I had done. From that day forward it was my favorite jet. It is the most beautiful jet ever produced!

[guillermovaldezramirez]

My father flew F-5s for Mexico back in the day. I remember his wall covered in F-5 nostalgia. Fantastic aircraft.

[ditzydoo]

By far and away my favorite aircraft ever. An outstanding part-I to the continued life that is the F-5 series... The aircraft was controversial with the Air Force generals who were not keen to have the aircraft they championed being shown up by an upstart design philosophy that out flew anything we had at the time, was cheap, rugged and east to maintain. If you don't think some general officers are not in the pockets of defense contractors, then you need to pull your head out of the sand and take a long hard look around. I look forward to the next one.

[brimstonebrimstone]

The most beautiful fighter aircraft ever produced, I can stare at it for hours, it's form is so beautiful. The definition of a sleek "fighter aircraft." It's a damn shame the F-20 didn't get selected. At least the YF-17 Cobra made it into production as the F-18 Hornet. Great video!

[briansoley]

Whenever i think of jet fighters, F5 is the only one comes to mind.
A true symbol of fighter aircraft.

[kristinawhorey]

With compact solid state avionics, improved radar, smart weapons, it can perform much better during these years, and costs a fraction of the 4/5th gen aircraft to operate. Northrop builds aircraft like T-38 which is slated to serve almost 100 years

[bazg]

The most beautiful jet aircraft ever built.
Not surprisingly, since Edgar Schmued who designed the F5, also designed that other lethal beauty, the P51 Mustang.

[madmangaud]

The F-5 Northrup plane is one of the greatest planes ever built, inexpensive, I've been working on them since '89. Love them!

[Handcraftedrock]

VW Beetle of fighter jets. Cheap, easy to maintain, reliable and gets the job done.

[anthonygalliart]

The F5 Freedom Fighter, F5 Tiger 2 and F20 Tigershark are my all time favorite low cost fighter jets.

[epi]

Absolutely amazing fighter. Can’t believe it originated from the 1950’s.

[josephthibeault]

I was in the USAF, 1964-68, did r&d on t38 my entire enlistment.
Glad to see them still flying.

[juanarce]

It is a hell of a plane, but the brass kept asking for higher, bigger, and faster jets when an excellent tool was under their noses!

[kelvaro]

very awesome video! i'm studying aircraft maintanance in a highschool in Norway right now where we actually have one of the former serving F-5A that the RNoAF donated to us that we can train maintenance on different systemns like landing gear, engine removal etc, its a beautiful aircraft!

[roblqz]

I love the F5 the past 36 years. Its so beautiful and sleek and swift.