Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA3364Northrop Grumman F-5N Tiger II 761557, VFC-111 Sundowners, US Navy, November 2020
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
In 1976 an F-5E s/n 76-1557 was constructed and spent time with the Swiss Air Force as J-3032. When the Swiss Air Force began to retire their F-5s, the U.S. decided to acquired 32 low-hour “E” variants that would equip Aggressor Squadrons. These F-5Es were upgraded to “N” specifications and added new aircraft to VFC-111 “Sun Downers”. VFC-111 is part of the USN Reserve’s fleet adversary program and provides air combat training to the USN and USMC. F-5N 761557 was delivered to VFC-111 in 2004 and is still flying wearing a 3-tone grey scheme.
Hobby Master HA3364, Northrop Grumman F-5N Tiger II 761557, VFC-111, 1:72
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)
(F-5F) - 51 feet 4 inch (15.65 m)
Height: 26 ft 8 in Height (F-5E)
13 feet 4 inch (4.06 m) Height (F-5F)
Wingspan: 13 feet 1.75 inch (4.01 m)
Powerplant: 2 x General Electric J85-GE-21B Turbojets With 5,000 lb.s.t. With Afterburning
Weight
Empty weight: (F-5E) – 9,723 lb (4,410 kg)
(F-5F) - 10,576 lb (4,797 kg)
Max takeoff weight: (F-5E) - 24,722 lb (11,214 kg)
(F-5F) - 25,152 lb (11,409 kg)
Performance
Maximum speed: F-5E – Mach 1.64 @ 36,000 ft
F-5F – Mach 1.55 @ 36,000 ft
Range: (F-5E) - 1,545 nm (2,863 km)
(F-5F) - 1,270 nm (2,353 km)
Service ceiling: (F-5E) - 51,800 ft (15,780 m)
(F-5F) - 50,800 ft (15,484 m)
Rate of climb: (F-5E) - 34,500 feet/min
(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)
