Northrop F-5F Tiger II ROCAF, Taiwan

Product description

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.

This F-5F modex 5385 was manufactured in 1980 as 80-0297, one of three F-5F-NOs built under contract numbers VH1007/VH1009. This aircraft was assigned to the 737th TFW / 7th TFG at Taitung AB. The 7th TFG is comprised of the 44th FS, 45th FS and 46th FS. In 1988 the 46th FS became subordinate to the Tactical Training and Development Center (Taiwan Top Gun) also located at Taitung AB. These aircraft have a bare metal finish simulating PLAAF aircraft and act as aggressors in the Tai Chung Training Range.

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)