Book Review of Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter and Tiger II
Flying in Air Forces Around the World
Author: Duke Hawkins
HMH Publications Book no. 028
ISBN: 9782931083215
MSRP: $36.00
By Ray Mehlberger
ISBN: 9782931083215
MSRP: $36.00
By Ray Mehlberger
HISTORY:
The Northrop F-5 is a family of supersonic light fighter aircraft initially designed as a privately funded project in the late 1950s by Northrop Corporation. There are two main models, the original F-5A and F-5B Freedom Fighter variants and the extensively updated F-5E and F-5F Tiger II variants. The design team wrapped a small, highly aerodynamic fighter around two compact and high-thrust General Electric J85 engines, focusing on performance and a low cost of maintenance. Smaller and simpler than contemporaries such as the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, the F-5 cost less to procure and operate, making it a popular export aircraft.
Though primarily designed for a day air superiority role, the aircraft is also a capable ground-attack platform. The F-5A entered service in the early 1960s. During the Cold War, over 800 were produced through 1972 for US allies. Though at the time the United States Air Force (USAF) did not have a need for a light fighter, it did procure approximately 1,200 Northrop T-38 Talon trainer aircraft, which was based on Northrop's N-156 fighter design.
After winning the International Fighter Aircraft Competition, a program aimed at providing effective low-cost fighters to American allies, in 1970 Northrop introduced the second-generation F-5E Tiger II in 1972. This upgrade included more powerful engines, larger fuel capacity, greater wing area and improved leading edge extensions for better turn rates, optional air-to-air refueling, and improved avionics including air-to-air radar.
Primarily used by American allies, it remains in US service to support training exercises. It has served in a wide array of roles, being able to perform both air and ground attack duties; the type was used extensively in the Vietnam War. A total of 1,400 Tiger IIs were built before production ended in 1987. More than 3,800 F-5s and the closely related T-38 advanced trainer aircraft were produced in Hawthorne, California. The F-5N/F variants are in service with the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps as adversary trainers. Over 400 aircraft were in service as of 2021.
The F-5 was also developed into a dedicated reconnaissance aircraft, the RF-5 Tigereye. The F-5 also served as a starting point for a series of design studies which resulted in the Northrop YF-17 and the F/A-18 naval fighter aircraft. The Northrop F-20 Tigershark was an advanced variant to succeed the F-5E which was ultimately canceled when export customers did not emerge.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Light fighter
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Northrop Corporation
First flight: F-5A: 30 July 1959, F-5E: 11 August 1972
Introduction to sevice: 1962
Status: In service
Primary users: United States Navy, Republic of China Air Force, Republic of Korea Air Force, Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
Produced: 1959–1987
Number built: A/B/C/D: 1,204, E/F: 1,399
Developed from: Northrop T-38 Talon
Variants: Canadair CF-5
Developed into: Northrop F-20 Tigershark, HESA Azarakhsh, HESA Saeqeh, HESA Kowsar
THE BOOK:
HMH Publiations, I believe is based in the UK. However, HMH books do not have title pages, that show addresses etc. Bad move HMH !
This book is of soft-cover, of 140 pages in 9” x 9” square format.
Including the front and back cover, the book contains 313 color photos.
The cove art is a color photo of an F-5 in flight. It is in a camouflage wave pattern of grey, green and tan, with a black nose, tail-cone and rudder flap. The flap has 2 diagonal white stripes across it.
The rudder has a black RF, next to a red star with a yellow border on it. At first, I thought this was a Soviet star, but their star has a white border. So, I don’t know the significance or purpose of this star. It appears on the tail of other countries F-5’s.
Below the rudder is black NAVY. In the middle of the fuselage sides is a black VFC 111, over a black U.S. star and bars. There is a red no. 105 on the sides of the nose and a shark-mouth. It carries a white drop tank.
The book contains color photos of F-5’s in the markings for the U.S. Navy and Marines, Swiss, Turkish, Republic of China, Iranian and Norwegian Air Forces. Either in flight or on the ground.
A photo of the Swiss acrobatic team.
Pictures of air intakes, wings (11 photos), the interior of the two-seat cockpit (48 photos), the ejection seat (7 photos), landing-gear (26 photos), speed-brakes (5 photos) and exhaust (6 photos).
A photo of four F-5’s being refueled by a Swiss Airbus a330-343 tanker.
Photos of maintenance being done on avionics, weapons and engines (11 photos).
A photo of a Grumman X-29, that has forward-swept wings. HTM plans a book on this aircraft later.
A photo of a pilot’s helmet.
The last page of the book shows 31 cover arts of other HMH books.
This is a neat picture album of F-5 variants. It will be of great interest to modelers, who plan on building an F-5 and to aviation enthusiasts alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of HMH books and all their titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
The Northrop F-5 is a family of supersonic light fighter aircraft initially designed as a privately funded project in the late 1950s by Northrop Corporation. There are two main models, the original F-5A and F-5B Freedom Fighter variants and the extensively updated F-5E and F-5F Tiger II variants. The design team wrapped a small, highly aerodynamic fighter around two compact and high-thrust General Electric J85 engines, focusing on performance and a low cost of maintenance. Smaller and simpler than contemporaries such as the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, the F-5 cost less to procure and operate, making it a popular export aircraft.
Though primarily designed for a day air superiority role, the aircraft is also a capable ground-attack platform. The F-5A entered service in the early 1960s. During the Cold War, over 800 were produced through 1972 for US allies. Though at the time the United States Air Force (USAF) did not have a need for a light fighter, it did procure approximately 1,200 Northrop T-38 Talon trainer aircraft, which was based on Northrop's N-156 fighter design.
After winning the International Fighter Aircraft Competition, a program aimed at providing effective low-cost fighters to American allies, in 1970 Northrop introduced the second-generation F-5E Tiger II in 1972. This upgrade included more powerful engines, larger fuel capacity, greater wing area and improved leading edge extensions for better turn rates, optional air-to-air refueling, and improved avionics including air-to-air radar.
Primarily used by American allies, it remains in US service to support training exercises. It has served in a wide array of roles, being able to perform both air and ground attack duties; the type was used extensively in the Vietnam War. A total of 1,400 Tiger IIs were built before production ended in 1987. More than 3,800 F-5s and the closely related T-38 advanced trainer aircraft were produced in Hawthorne, California. The F-5N/F variants are in service with the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps as adversary trainers. Over 400 aircraft were in service as of 2021.
The F-5 was also developed into a dedicated reconnaissance aircraft, the RF-5 Tigereye. The F-5 also served as a starting point for a series of design studies which resulted in the Northrop YF-17 and the F/A-18 naval fighter aircraft. The Northrop F-20 Tigershark was an advanced variant to succeed the F-5E which was ultimately canceled when export customers did not emerge.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Light fighter
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Northrop Corporation
First flight: F-5A: 30 July 1959, F-5E: 11 August 1972
Introduction to sevice: 1962
Status: In service
Primary users: United States Navy, Republic of China Air Force, Republic of Korea Air Force, Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
Produced: 1959–1987
Number built: A/B/C/D: 1,204, E/F: 1,399
Developed from: Northrop T-38 Talon
Variants: Canadair CF-5
Developed into: Northrop F-20 Tigershark, HESA Azarakhsh, HESA Saeqeh, HESA Kowsar
THE BOOK:
HMH Publiations, I believe is based in the UK. However, HMH books do not have title pages, that show addresses etc. Bad move HMH !
This book is of soft-cover, of 140 pages in 9” x 9” square format.
Including the front and back cover, the book contains 313 color photos.
The cove art is a color photo of an F-5 in flight. It is in a camouflage wave pattern of grey, green and tan, with a black nose, tail-cone and rudder flap. The flap has 2 diagonal white stripes across it.
The rudder has a black RF, next to a red star with a yellow border on it. At first, I thought this was a Soviet star, but their star has a white border. So, I don’t know the significance or purpose of this star. It appears on the tail of other countries F-5’s.
Below the rudder is black NAVY. In the middle of the fuselage sides is a black VFC 111, over a black U.S. star and bars. There is a red no. 105 on the sides of the nose and a shark-mouth. It carries a white drop tank.
The book contains color photos of F-5’s in the markings for the U.S. Navy and Marines, Swiss, Turkish, Republic of China, Iranian and Norwegian Air Forces. Either in flight or on the ground.
A photo of the Swiss acrobatic team.
Pictures of air intakes, wings (11 photos), the interior of the two-seat cockpit (48 photos), the ejection seat (7 photos), landing-gear (26 photos), speed-brakes (5 photos) and exhaust (6 photos).
A photo of four F-5’s being refueled by a Swiss Airbus a330-343 tanker.
Photos of maintenance being done on avionics, weapons and engines (11 photos).
A photo of a Grumman X-29, that has forward-swept wings. HTM plans a book on this aircraft later.
A photo of a pilot’s helmet.
The last page of the book shows 31 cover arts of other HMH books.
This is a neat picture album of F-5 variants. It will be of great interest to modelers, who plan on building an F-5 and to aviation enthusiasts alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of HMH books and all their titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
Highly recommended.