Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA3365Northrop Grumman F-5N Tiger II 761554, VFC-111 Sundowners, US Navy, 2021
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
F-5 761554 MSN L. 1028 was formerly owned by the Swiss Air Force as J-3029 and acquired by the USN when the Swiss were retiring these planes. The aircraft underwent upgrades to an “N” variant and became active with VFC-111 “Sun Downers” in 2008. VFC-111 is an Aggressor Squadron with the mission to train USN and USMC pilots in the art of aerial combat. Many VFC-111 F-5s are painted in a two-tone blue scheme to visually mimic Russian latest aircraft. Several of these paint schemes differ from the others by using the two blues in various patterns.
Hobby Master HA3365, Northrop Grumman F-5N Tiger II 761554, 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)
