Northrop F-5A
FREEDOM FIGHTER
Manufacturer:
Northrop Corporation
Wingspan:
25 ft 3 in
Length
46 ft 11 in
Max Speed:
925 mph
Range:
1,400 miles
Service Ceiling:
50,000 ft
Entered Production:
1959
Total Manufactured:
620-630
Armament:
(If applicable)
Two nose-mounted 20-mm M39 guns, and two AIM-9 Side-winder missiles on wingtip launchers. One under fuselage and four underwing pylons permitted the carriage of almost 6,000lb of weapons.
Summary
In 1954, the United States government created a study for a lightweight fighter which would be easy to use and maintain, that could be shared with other countries via the Military Assistance Program (MAP). By 1959 protoypes for this aircraft began testing, and in May of 1963, the official prototype for the F-5A was flown. However, The F-5B, a two-seater trainer equivalent, entered service about four months ahead of the F-5A. Eventually thousands of F-5’s were exported to over 30 allied countries. The F-5’s flew with countries such as: Canada, Spain, Brazil, Ethiopia, Greece, Iran, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, Norway, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Venezuela. It was a great example of an American aircraft manufacturer teaming up to provide resources globally.
Overview
Our F-5A was one of four taken on strength with the Imperial Iranian Air Force in 1968, then with the Royal Jordanian Air Force. It was brought back to the US in 1995, and donated to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum in 2011, where it was painted in classic Republic of Korea Air Force markings, circa 1965. This aircraft honors Gen. Kim Too Man, a legendary figure in the ROKAF.
