A light fighter developed in the mid 1950s, the Tiger is a member of a small number of aircraft developed around similar goals; a lightweight, high speed, and highly maneuverable, supersonic aircraft.
For the US Air Force, the F-5 was a supersonic fighter that combined low cost, ease of maintenance and great versatility. It was suitable for various types of ground-support and aerial intercept missions, including those conducted from unpaved fields in combat areas. The F-5E was most well-known for its use as a simulated MiG-21 to train pilots in aerial combat skills and Soviet tactics. Built off the successful F-5A platform, the more powerful F-5E included improved avionics, air-to-air fire control radar system, and enhanced weapons capabilities.
Hill Air Force Base has historical mission connections to the Tiger II. Hill’s Ogden Air Logistics Complex once had a unit in Japan that performed F-5 depot maintenance and repairs. Furthermore, base personnel also supported foreign military sales of F-5 undergraduate pilot trainers and visual systems to allied partners.
The F-5E on display was originally a Northrop test/chase jet. Once acquired for the collection, Museum staff painted this aircraft to resemble the F-5Es flown by US Air Force aggressor squadrons at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
Technical Sergeant Jay Johnson, who once worked with this aircraft, reflected on his experience: “The aircraft was painted a green camouflage, not unlike the paint schemes that we saw during the Vietnam War era. In 1982, I was assigned as lead crew chief on [tail number] 1640. The aircraft had a blue camouflage paint scheme. In 1983, a program was established to paint all of the F-5s in polyurethane grey. 73-1640 was one of the best flying aircraft that the 425th had, and it was the best time of my crew chief career.”
This aircraft is on loan from the U.S. Air Force Heritage Program.
Serial Number: 73-01640
Manufacturer: Northrop Corporation
Primary Function: Interceptor-Trainer
Crew: One
Engines: Two General Electric J85-GE-21 turbojets; 5,000 lbs thrust per engine with afterburner
Wingspan: 26 ft 8 in
Length: 48 ft 2 in
Height: 13 ft 4 in
Weight: 9,558 lbs (Empty), 24,675 lbs (Maximum)
Speed: 1,050 mph (Maximum); 650 mph (Cruising)
Range: 2,300 miles (with external fuel tanks)
Service Ceiling: 50,700 ft
Armament: Two M-39 20mm cannons; Up to 5,500 lbs. assorted ordnance
Cost: $756,000
Years of Service: 1964 – 1990
Built off the successful F-5A platform, the more powerful F-5E included improved avionics, air-to-air fire control radar system, and enhanced weapons capabilities. The F-5E made its initial flight in 1972 and served during the Vietnam War. The F-5E was most well-known for simulating MiG-21s for training in aerial combat skills and Soviet tactics at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
Over the years, the Ogden Air Logistics Center supported Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of undergraduate pilot trainers and visual systems; among them were F-5 trainers. The F-5E on display was originally a Northrop test/chase jet that served at bases in California and Arizona in the 1970s. Hill Aerospace Museum acquired this aircraft for display, and it was painted to closely resemble the F-5Es flown by the United States Air Force (USAF) Aggressor Squadrons at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
A light fighter developed in the mid 1950s, the Tiger is a member of a small number of aircraft developed around similar goals; a lightweight, high speed, and highly maneuverable, supersonic aircraft.
The Tiger is considered a very successful aircraft for the roles it provides and for its capabilities as a lightweight fighter. It especially excels in use by the U.S. Navy as an aggressor aircraft, standing in for foreign air forces to help train American TOPGUN pilots.
Approximately 17 F-5Es were eventually deployed for combat in the sky over North Vietnam. Though nine would eventually be lost, the aircraft was deemed an overall success for its deployment.
As the F-5 was ultimately not intended for widespread use within the U.S., outside of training exercises, the F-5 is still in use by the Navy and Marine Corps.