FREEDOM FIGHTER
The F-5A and F-5B Freedom Fighters, and F-5E
and F-5F
Tiger II are part of a family of widely used light supersonic
fighters designed and built by Northrop beginning in the
1960s. The type has also been the basis for a number of
other aircraft models.
The F-5 started life as a Northrop company-funded light
fighter program. The first generation F-5A Freedom Fighter
entered service in the 1960s, over 800 being produced for
many U.S. allied air forces. The USAF had no requirement
for a light fighter, but it did need a supersonic trainer and
procured about 1,200 of a trainer derived from the F-5
airframe, the T-38 Talon.
The improved second-generation F-5E Tiger II was also
primarily used by American allied air forces, but also served
in limited quantities in US military aviation as a training and
aggressor aircraft. Tiger II production amounted to 1,400 of
all versions, with production ending in 1987.
Many F-5s continuing
in service into the 1990s and 2000s
have undergone a wide variety of upgrade programs to keep
pace with the changing combat environment.
The F-5 airframe also
served as the basis for the F-20
Tigershark fighter, only 2 examples of which were built, and
the X-29 forward swept wing research aircraft.
This CD contains
the flight manuals for all the main versions
the F-5 series. The CD has been scanned from the original
flight manuals and retains any colour pages.
