The F-5F is a twin seat variant of the F-5E and is used most prominently by the US in it’s Aggressor squadrons to act as OPFOR targets for training pilots.
History
The F-5 began it’s career with it’s first flight in 1963 at Edwards AFB after the need for a lightweight tactical fighter was called for by NATO. The USAF would adopt the F-5 soon thereafter however. In October of 1965 the F-5 would start a five month combat evaluation where it proved a success after missions over Vietnam.
The F-5 would then go on to be adopted as OPFOR units to train pilots against in varying situations. These flew in the 64th and 65th Aggressor squadrons based out of Nellis AFB in Nevada. They would also be used by the US Marines to serve with VMFT-401 at Marine Cops Air Station Yuma and also with the US Navy which used them extensively in the Naval Fighter Weapons School, better know as TOPGUN.
The F-5 would develop into the F-5E in 1970 followed by a twin seat version, the F-5F. The F-5F would essentially be the same as the F-5E except for the obvious second seat which allowed it to be used as an effective training aircraft to teach new pilots how to fight and a longer nose which allowed it to maintain a single M39 cannon, something that the previous twin seat F-5B did not have.
Specifications
Size
- Length: 51 feet 7 inches (15.7 meters)
- Wingspan: 26 feet 8 inches (8.1 meters)
- Height: 13 feet 1.75 inches (4.0 meters)
Weight:
- Weight: Max. gross, take-off: 24,722 pounds (11,214 kg)
Engine:
- 2 x J85-GE-21C afterburning turbojet engines each producing 5,000 pounds (2,273 kg) of thrust
Max Speed:
- Mach 1.56 at 36,000 feet
Ceiling:
- 50,000+ feet (15,420 +meters)
Armament
Guns
- 1 x 20mm M39A2 Revolver Cannon, 280 rounds
Air-to-Air
- 2 x AIM-9J Sidewinders
Air-to-Ground
- Hydra 70mm rockets
- Zuni rockets
- AGM-65 Maverick
- Yes
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