- Yes
- No
Hello, I’m back with another Canadian plane. Once again this one is licensed built. Being the Canadair CF-5 otherwise known by the RCAF CF-116 or the Canadian-built Northop F-5. Well, I might seem a bit outside my time period where I do my suggestions(because I am) the CF-116 is one of my favourite planes so here I am suggesting it.
History:
The F-5 would begin in 1954 when Northrop examined the NBMR-1 and the needs of SEATO. However, the design wouldn’t really begin until General Electric came out with its J35 turbojet engine. One of the biggest parts of its design was Welko Gasich’s life cycle cost philosophy which led to its low cost and long life. In 1962 the aircraft would be selected as a low-cost export fighter where it would gain the name F-5A.
In 1964 the Royal Canada Air Force would begin looking for an aircraft to replace both the CF-104 and the CF-101. This started with a proposal to jointly produce the F-4 with the UK, this was however rejected due to it being too costly. This would lead to Jean Victor Allard to evaluating 4 aircraft, those being the F-5, A-6, A-4 and A-7. Out of those aircraft the Royal Canadian Navy wanted the A-4 Skyhawk as a replacement for its F2H Banshees to continue carrier operations. Although the aircraft that was most recommended was the A-7 Corsair for the RCAF needs. Out of all the aircraft looked at the only one that was considered not suitable for Canada’s needs. Despite the promising look of other aircraft the outcome of the choice would change when Pauk Hellyer would get involved. He would proceed to question the RCAF’s role and preoccupation with fighters. Due to this he would continue changing the requirements of the RCAFs new aircraft until only the F-5 could be picked. This action was highly likely influenced by Paul Hellyar’s close relationship with T.V. Jones who was President of the Northrop Corporation, as he would later call the F-5 “little more than a trainer with guns hung on it”. In Canada, as a whole, it was an unpopular decision due to the mature aerospace industry, as the aircraft was far less sophisticated than most aircraft they worked to to the point it seemed like sabotage. Tho this wasn’t the case as a big part of why Northrop won the contract was the fact that they permitted the Canadian government to be able to sell the aircraft to third parties. This side of the deal would be quickly reinforced when the Royal Netherlands Air Force would order some under a production-sharing agreement with Canada. This would lead to the NF-5 which would receive some more modifications on top of the base ones done to the CF-116s.
Due to the needs of Canada, the CF-116 would receive a bunch of modifications. These would include, a two-position nose landing gear; which when compressed it operated like the original landing gear but when extended it would raise the nose which would increase the angle of attack and increase lift. These changes ended up reducing takeoff distance by nearly 20%. The CF-116 would also receive a midair refuelling probe and would use Orenda-built General Electric J85-15 engines. The aircraft would also receive a more sophisticated navigation system. The nose of the aircraft was also interchangeable with a specially designed reconnaissance st that had four cameras in it.
Well, it was originally planned to have three squadrons equipped with the aircraft but due to budget restraints, any excess aircraft was put into storage, these would be kept at CFB North Bay and CFB Trenton. So only 433 and 434 Squadron would end up operating the CF-116. 434 Squadron was originally assigned to perform lead-in tactical fighter training for the CF-104s but this would be changed to a rapid reaction squadron, which would be ready to deploy at on moment’s notice if things escalated in Europe. The squadron would also see a few relocations during its time with the CF-116. being moved to CFB Bagotville where it would join 433 Squadron for a brief period of time and then being sent to CFB Chatham. Eventually, 419 Squadron located at CFB Cold Lake would receive the training role. they would do a number of things including jet training, and dissimilar air combat training with the aircraft painted on Soviet-style aggressor schemes and would finally serve as a lead-in trainer for the CF-188s before their retirement in 1995. Although the aircraft was originally meant to be permanently deployed to Europe this wouldn’t happen due to the aforementioned budgetary restraints. However, they would see some service in Europe primarily for exercises with reconnaissance variants spreading the most time in Europe. With a CF-116 winning what is called the NATO “Photo Derby” in 1985. Over all the CF-116 would end up serving a number of roles throughout its life.
Specs:
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 47 ft 2 in (14.38 m)
- Wingspan: 25 ft 10 in (7.87 m)
- Height: 13 ft 2 in (4.01 m)
- Wing area: 186 sq ft (17.28 m2)
- Empty weight: 8,681 lb (3,938 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 20,390 lb (9,249 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Orenda-built GE J85-15 turbojet, 2,925 lbf (13.01 kN) thrust each dry, 4,300 lbf (19 kN) with afterburner
Performance
- Maximum speed: 978 mph (1,575 km/h, 850 kn)
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.3
- Range: 875 mi (1,400 km, 760 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 41,000 ft (12,000 m)
- Rate of climb: 34,400 ft/min (175 m/s)
Armament
- Guns: 2× 20 mm (0.787 in)Pontiac M39A2 cannons in the nose, 280 rounds/gun
- Hardpoints: 5 with a capacity of 7,000 lb (3,200 kg), with provisions to carry combinations of:
- Rockets: 2× CRV7 rocket pods
or 2× LAU-10 rocket pods with 4× Zuni 127 mm rockets each
or 2× Matra rocket pods with 18× 68 mm SNEB rockets each - Bombs: a variety of air-to-ground ordnance, such as the Mark 80 series of unguided iron bombs (including 3 kg and 14 kg practice bombs), U.S. CBU-24/49/52/58 and British BL755 cluster bomb munitions, M129 Leaflet bomb
- Other: drop tanksfor extended range
- Rockets: 2× CRV7 rocket pods
Sources
Canadian Warplanes 6: Canadair CF-116 Freedom Fighter
Canadair CF-5 - Wikipedia
Cold War Air Power Choices For The RCAF: Paul Hellyer and the Selection of the CF5 Freedom Fighter - Canadian Military Journal
Northrop F-5 - Wikipedia
https://ingeniumcanada.org/aviation/artifact/canadair-cf-116-cf-5a
Information archivée dans le Web | Information Archived on the Web
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMhr85csmg8