FS2002 F-5A Freedom Fighter

The acceptance of the N-156F as the fighter for the Military Assistance Program, trials with the first 
two N-156F prototypes had indicated the need for a stronger wing structure that could accommodate 
an additional stores station underneath each wing and a stronger undercarriage to accommodate the 
added load. It was expected that up to 6200 pounds of ordnance could be carried on four underwing 
pylons and one under-fuselage pylon.

These changes were built into the third N-156F (59-4989), which was given the designation YF-5A 
and became in effect the first production F-5A. At the same time, uprated J85-GE-13 turbojets were 
fitted, each offering 3050 lb.s.t. dry and 4080 lb.s.t. with afterburning. 59-4989 took off on its 
maiden flight on July 31, 1963 with Hank Chouteau as the pilot. The first and second prototypes were 
subsequently brought up to F-5A production standards.

These changes were built into the third N-156F (59-4989), which was given the designation YF-5A 
and became in effect the first production F-5A. At the same time, uprated J85-GE-13 turbojets were 
fitted, each offering 3050 lb.s.t. dry and 4080 lb.s.t. with afterburning. 59-4989 took off on its 
maiden flight on July 31, 1963 with Hank Chouteau at the controls. The first and second prototypes 
were subsequently brought up to F-5A production standards.

The first two genuine production F-5As (63-8367 and -8368) joined the test program at the end of 
1963. Initial deliveries, beginning in April of 1964, were to the 4441st Combat Crew Training 
Squadron based at Williams AFB in Arizona, where the USAF trained the pilots and maintenance 
personnel of nations receiving F-5s. This base acted as the instructional center for foreign personnel 
who were to act as instructors on the F-5 in their own countries.

The original configuration of the F-5A provided for only minimal fighter capability. In mid-1964, 
the Secretary of Defense directed a revision of the Specific Operational Requirement 199, requiring 
the addition of two internal 20-mm cannon in the nose and provision for nose fuel tanks and cameras. 
The two Colt-Browning M-39 cannon were fitted in the top decking of the nose, immediately ahead of 
the cockpit. This imposed a delay of four months while the cannon fit was designed and incorporated. 
The delay resulted in Category II and Category III testing taking place almost simultaneously 
between February and October of 1964.

The F-5A is optimized for the air-to-ground role and has only a very limited air-to-air capability. In 
the interest of achieving low cost, the F-5A was not equipped with a fire-control radar, the weapons 
being aimed by a simple optical sight acting in conjunction with a small Emerson radar ranging set 
installed in the extreme nose. The initial avionics fit was rather austere, the standard electronic 
equipment including an AN/ARC-34C UHF radio, PP-2024 SWIA Missile AVX, AN/AIC-18 interphone, 
J-4 compass, AN/APX-46 IFF and AN/ARN-65 Tacan receiver.

The first overseas order for F-5As was from Norway, which ordered 64 aircraft plus four attrition 
replacements on February 28, 1964. They differed in having a heated windshield, an airfield 
arrester hook, and provision for JATO.

The F-5A has very docile handling attributes. It is almost unspinnable, and exhibits little, if any, wing 
drop at the stall. By grouping the two J85 engines so closely together, Northrop has greatly reduced 
engine-out asymmetric effects.Production of the F-5A by Northrop ended in June of 1972, after 636 
examples had been manufactured.

TECNIC COUNTER

Origin: USA 

Type: light tactical fighter 

Max Speed: 802 kt / 924 mph 

Max Range 2594 km / 1,612 miles 

Dimensions: span 7.70 m / 25 ft 3 in

length 14.38 m / 47 ft 2 in
height 4.01 m / 13 ft 2 in 

Weight: empty 3,667 kg / 8,085 lb

maximum take-off 9,374 kg / 20,667 lb 

Powerplant: two 1850-kg (4,080-lb) afterburning thrust General Electric J85-GE 13 turbojets 

Armament: two 20-mm M39 cannon with 280 rounds per gun; provision for 1996 kg (4,400 lb) of 
disposable stores, including AAMs, 

COMMENT

After sometime without doing reviews, I,ve decided to continue. For my welcome back I have chosen a 
fighter, the " F-5A Freedom Fighter. " Firstly, I would like to mention the good yoke movement in the 
main panel. However the virtul cabin is not so good without any yoke movement and with bad textures. 
Going back to the main panel I have seen some good side views. There is also some well done fire 
coming out the turbo fans. This is one of the best things of the plane. After all a good plane with 
excellent textures. I recommend you to download it from FSPLANET. COM's database.

My rating is 9/10

By Pablo Teodoro
FSPLANET's reviewer

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