FREEDOM FIGHTER: The Original Northrop F-5 Was A US Fighter Build Like A Soviet One

The F-5 was a revolutionary fighter. As the Tiger II it was distributed to many nations around the world, besting the contemporary MiG-21 on numerous occasions. This has reasonably led to suggestions that it would have been the best USAF air-superiority option during Rolling Thunder.
What people forget, of course, is that the F-5E is a 1970s fighter. In the 1960s the F-5 was still the Freedom Fighter. The Freedom Fighter was a fascinating aircraft. It was in many ways an American version of a MiG: a small, tough and simple platform that could do many of them things that a Century Series could do, but with higher sortie rates and lower costs. And, as the F-5C, it saw service over South Vietnam in US and South Vietnamese Air Force service.
Because I feel that the Freedom Fighter isn't sufficiently well covered, this video looks in some detail at the story of the early F-5. It also goes into detail about Skoshi Tiger and analyses how the F-5 would have fared as an air superiority fighter against the MiG-21 and MiG-17 in Vietnamese conditions.
I hope you enjoy this one. I learned a great deal about the context for the F-5, its unique characteristics and its performance. As ever, your comments and thoughts are much appreciated!

[@jimk8520]

I’ve always felt that the F5 was, aesthetically speaking, one of the most elegant fighters we ever made.

[@markymarknj]

YES! I always thought that it was a beautiful plane.

[@flavortown3781]

quite literally a rapier, small quick, precise, multi-talented,

[@MrOtistetrax]

@@flavortown3781Very apt analogy. The Rapier to the F4’s Claymore. Or the Thunderchief’s battleaxe.

[@Tango4N]

Agreed. This and the F-16.

[@markymarknj]

@@Tango4N the F-16 looks good too, especially clean or with just the two Sidewinders on the wings.

[@CoconutCrabGaming]

The F-5 is such a cool aircraft. Wish they produced the F-20 Tigershark!

[@exidy-yt]

Me too. The Tigershark could easily compete with the Viper today had it gone to production.

[@ReviveHF]

F-20 Tigershark with F-414 Turbo fan engine, AMRAAM missiles and AESA radar is a force to be recon with.

[@DriveCarToBar]

There is a book about the F-20 written by test pilot Paul Metz. It details a bunch of important things about the future F-20 including an uprated F404 engine that would have produced as much thrust as the current Block 50 and up F-16s. It also shows off F-20's with larger wings and larger conformal fuel tanks to increase its range. Northrop had already designed a new nose cone to fit the AN/APG-67 radar and processors AND its twin 20mm guns, or a single gun with more ammo. The book seems to indicate that with the modularity of the aircraft and the additional real estate provided by the bigger wings (and thus lower wing loading) future F-20s would have been a little behind in the dogfighting role the F-16 was built for, but even more capable and longer lived than the F-16 in the SEAD missions and ground support roles the Viper has found itself thrust into. Even today, old F-16s are getting beat up having to lug that much heavy ordnance and fuel under the wings. They simply weren't meant to do it. The F-20, being a larger aircraft would be better today at filling the SEAD role. Northrop even had a CAS/BFI mission package for the F-20 to turn it into a grunt support machine. Really a missed opportunity. Even today, with some updates to the shape of the thing for stealth, I'll bet it would be a first rate option for whats going in in Ukraine.forum.warthunder.com/t/f-20-the-best-plane-that-never-entered-production/32563/7?page=2

[@DefaultProphet]

@@exidy-ytnot even but it is cool

[@sparrowlt]

@@exidy-yt it could compete but only to a point.. the point being a cheaper and easier to maintain fighter.. otherwise the problem of the Tigershark was that in the end was still a F-5 wich means limited size for everything.. no room for grouth (tought the F-20 started with allready better avionics than the F-16A) less weapons capability.. no room in the nose for a big radar antenna meaning the radar could never match the Viper radar.. Thats why northrop decided to also make a new plane based on the F-5 design bigger wich resulted in the YF-17 wich was then enlarged into the F-18 rather than navalize a F-5

[@erikbendtsen5353]

I was told this by an Norwegian pilot who flew the F5, it was used as a electronic warfare plane with jammers and flew with the F16s well into the 1980s. He told me it was a wery good airplane, not a pushover

[@JTA1961]

Periodically showing a car from that year would REALLY go a long way to show HOW ahead of the time these planes were.

[@cdfe3388]

Living in southwest Arizona means seeing the daily air show from MCAS Yuma, which these days is mostly F-35s, Yankee-model Hueys, and Ospreys. However, there’s also some DACT F-5s overhead on a semi-regular basis. It’s still incredible seeing one of those little beauties streak through the sky!

[@HennyvilleX]

You nailed it, that's a big part of my fascination for military aircraft in general😉

[@yakacm]

I think the illustration @4:47 does this admirably, the helicopter in the background looks so old fashioned and last century, whereas the aircraft in the foreground looks bang up to date and modern.

[@fulcrum2168]

Search Lola T70

[@daszieher]

​@@fulcrum2168 nah, still.

[@mathewcaldwell4108]

My dad was a weights and balance engineer on the F-5A,B,C, and the talon he loved working on it. He had been working on the XB-70 prototype #2 around the same time which was a nightmare for the engineers having to deal with the heat expansion and contractions on every flight.

[@wrong4538]

I was in the USAF in the late 70's and early 80's when the promotional material for the F-20 Tiger Shark started making the rounds in the squadron day room. The performance specs for this aircraft were fantastic and the cost was around 3 F-20's for 1 F-16. I keep thinking "So when are we going to see these planes show up on the flight line?". What a terrible mistake not acquiring this great aircraft that could climb from 0 to 50,000 feet in one minute and was being fitted for latest radar and weapons system. I always thought the airframe was way ahead of its time and we wasted this opportunity.

[@thomassuit7450]

IIRC, the F-20 had the fastest cold start to intercept time of any fighter/interceptor out there. But General Dynamics was lobbying (bribing) hard to not have any competition for the F16. They offered it to some country in South America, and got blocked by the US govt with the excuse that it was too good, and would lead to an arms race in the region. A few years later, there were no such objections when F16s were sold to that same country.

[@BigDaddy-yp4mi]

The F-20 was Chuck Yeager's favorite plane to fly. He lamented that had politics stayed out and performance and price where what mattered, then tons of mid to small countries could have afforded it, no ladders or special equipment was needed to do maintenance, and could be reloaded, refueled and re-racked with bombs in under 8 minutes. The world missed out on the Tiger.

[@ninjabearpress2574]

Ah, the Pentagon, as the fictional Colonel Potter called it, "The five-sided monument to Murphy's Law."

[@keithdurose7057]

Perhaps the resurrection of this aircraft could fill the emense void that the RAF have in their inventory. On paper, at least. It performs like a BAC Lightning in air superiority and can move mud like an F4. Great range and CHEAP! Perhaps it could also compliment the super expensive F35's on the aircraft carriers?

[@richardbennett1856]

I also saw that. It also was remarkable that they never got on the flight line.

[@bmouch1018]

I *fucking love* the F-5. Something about its looks and its balance of affordability, versatility, and capability just makes me love it.

[@davidangel-blair9358]

Thank you for the deep dive into the original F-5!. Living in Canada, I can remember seeing CF-5s flying in the 1970s.

[@Tango4N]

I saw them at the Toronto Air Show when I was a kid. Still have the booklet from that somewhere.

[@MutheiM_Marz]

F-5 is so good it's still serve in my country today...many were replaced by Grippen tho.

[@lil__boi3027]

brasil número uno🇧🇷🇧🇷 ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒

[@shaider1982]

Interesting. The F5A was replaced here in my country with the FA50 as an interim before we bought a multirole fighter (either the Gripen or F16).

[@minera7595]

The situation sound quite similar to my country's air force (Thailand)

[@copter2000]

@@minera7595 Thailand mentioned 🥳🥳🥳🇹🇭 🇹🇭 🇹🇭 🇹🇭 🇹🇭

[@PraecipeWrit]

F-5 is ideal variant for the third world country not going to actually fight anyone.

[@sergioleone3583]

The F-5 has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid and had a toy of it. Just a beautiful plane. As a grown up and also car guy (all my life gearhead) and owner of a Mazda Miata (first gen), I thought of the F-5 when I also had an Cadillac XLR for a few years. The XLR was also a great car (Vette with a Caddy engine and body) and handled really well, but the Miata was so precise, lightweight, and low cost of maintenance that I mentioned to a friend that the Miata to the XLR was like the F-5 to the F-15. Even found a great picture online of the F-5 and F-15 together from a USAF Red Flag operation (I think it was from one of those, not 100% sure). As always, THANK YOU for such an entertainingly informative video. Along with so many other planes I hope to see you cover some day (you've given some great attention to some long ignored but well deserving planes already), this one made me hope you may cover the A-37 Dragonfly some day. Cheers mate!

[@BigDaddy-yp4mi]

Your analogy on how civilian passenger vehicles handling compares to the handling of F-5 and an F-15. Except most dudes make analogies of stuff people have actually used or been through in order to come up with a universal standard. Nobody here has flown F-15's man. Neither have you. You're talking out your a$$

[@billycarpenter4740]

In 1968 dad was stationed at Chandler AFB (Phoenix, Arizona) as a jet engine mechanic on the T-38 ( F-5 two seater trainer). Most all were painted white, ocassionally we saw those painted in camoflauge. Always the best looking jet to me. Many pilots trained on these and then advanced on to F-4 Fantoms, and then on to Vietnam.

[@DraftySatyr]

The video explains (at length) that the T-38 was NOT a two-seater derivative of the F-5, the latter of which weighed about twice as much and had a very different wing, to name but two differences.

[@TSmith-ns45]

As a T-38 instrument navigation instructor in 1968 (1963-1975) I can tell you that the avionics are vastly different. Later T-38 mods gave it a HUD, but still not a heavier F-5.

[@stevenscoggins170]

Maybe it has something to do with the T-38/F-5 siblings being my favorite aircraft, but thoroughly enjoyed this episode. After the Vietnam War, the Soviets tested the F-5 a d found it to be generally superior to the MiG-21 in most aspects other than top speed, of course.

[@VikingTeddy]

I always thought that the Talon was just a modified F-5, and it seems to be a relatively common misconception. I was surprised to learn that it came first, and is a completely different aircraft.

[@raymondyee2008]

Glad my country’s Air Force (RSAF) used the F-5Es and used them well until they got replaced by F-15s.

[@johnnyallred3753]

If I was buying fighter for any country. The f-5 would be the fighter I would buy and lots of them. Dan Padrrsen in his book Top Gun an american story said on page 283". Give me a few hundred planes like the F-5N, with a reliable gun, a lead computing gunsight 4 Sindwinders, electronic countermeasure support, and pilots who get forty to fifty flight hours a month, and we’ll beat any air force that's bankrupting its nation with fifth-generation stealthy penguins". Great book by the founder of the Top Gun program.I found your video on the F-5 very enjoyable.Thank you.

[@markymarknj]

That's an INTERESTING find! Thanks for sharing. However, if I were buying fighters for a country, I'd go for the F-20 Tigershark; it has all of the F-5's virtues, but only more so; i.e. it's the F-5 perfected.

[@johnnyallred3753]

@@markymarknj Yes the F-20 Tigershark !.

[@martentrudeau6948]

@@markymarknj ~ Chuck Yeager liked the F-20, and that's a good endorsement.

[@markymarknj]

@@martentrudeau6948 you got THAT right!

[@rhadooxxl]

Cool quote. Completely wrong, you would just have a few hundred corpses if you fly those against 5th generation fighters. But if you need a fighter on the cheap, and if you are not threatened by, say, the whole Soviet Airforce, the F5 is a good choice.

[@Godvana_]

There's a typo in your title, should be built instead of build

[@Frankenspank67]

Maybe not tho???

[@Frankenspank67]

Ok ya nevermind, it is wrong

[@albow4oops5]

Sorry, mom.😁

[@crispay8304]

🤓🤓🤓🤓

[@stickiedmin6508]

​@@albow4oops5 You don't think professionalism is important?

[@tomdis8637]

F-5 - one of four great fighters our Air Force geniuses passed on. The other three? F-20 Tigershark, F-16XL, YF-23. Am I right, or what? 😂

[@RCAvhstape]

I am loving this channel more each week. I have long been a fan of 1960s era Cold War fighter jets.

[@gerhardris]

Excellent video thanks! The Dutch was the NF5a and b two seater. It was deemed that pilots needed much more training before transferring to F104G Starfighters. Indeed, as you correctly state imo NATO could use much more little Tigers as the war in Ukraine again proves. The Fiat G95 was also one to put on the list for cheap well built with a high sortie rate. Fokker devised the chines BTW. The Duth also wanted a much stronger front window against bird strike. And fitted chaff dispersors to the rear. 43:28

[@DraftySatyr]

Brave use of the NATO reporting name for the MiG-15 at around 0:20 ! To me as a Brit it simply means a meat-ball, usually served with a rich, thick gravy. But to others ...

[@entitygames9751]

Even as a brit myself, I’ve had homophobes call me that word and threaten me and friends. I’m certain they weren’t trying to call me a meatball.

[@Airplanefan477]

I thought to you Brits it meant cigarettes

[@maciek_k.cichon]

For those wondering about sledge at 19:09 look up "F-5 towing a sledge funny scene video 336 sqn RNoAF". It's just a taxing precedure gone fun.

[@whos1st]

Love the work you do on your channel.

[@notapound]

Thank you! Really appreciate the kind words!

[@GrizzAxxemann]

A friend of mine was was an Ordie on the CF-116 when he was in the military. He even worked briefly as a contractor to teach the Botswanans how to load CRV-7s on the planes they bought after the CF retired them.

[@scootergeorge7089]

The USN reserves still fly the F-5. VFC-13 at NAS Fallon NV. I left "Saint Adversary" in 1991 when the squadron was still at NAS Miramar flying the A-4F and TA-4J.

[@xmeda]

This plane is perfect plane for most countries that only need few planes for performing airpolicing over civillian air transport and doing regular patrols over border. It just needs avionics upgrade to current standards and it can serve for many decades to come. Not everybody needs heavy expensive things like F16, F35 or Eurofighter.

[@minera7595]

This is just an educated guess, but one of the problems holding us from using them instead of more recent airframes is probably the lack of spare parts, I could be wrong though

[@alexturnbackthearmy1907]

@@minera7595 And also presence of more affordable options (resurrecting their production will not be cheap), like good`ol migs (21 and 23), mirages or whatever is still left from 70`s.

[@exidy-yt]

One word. Tigershark.

[@g.h.9117]

Fantastic airplane! As a T38 guy I always wanted to take that bird up! I wished the Tigershark F20 would have been developed too. Beautiful aerodynamic aircraft. They just didn't have long legs or extra hard points for hanging more weapons compared with tge newer F16 and F15s..

[@leroyabernathy9934]

These are simply the best aircraft video presentations on aircraft available, being much like an overall briefing on the given aircraft and both its friendly and enemy competitors.The narrators' scope of knowledge, voice, style and subdued humor make them superior to that of other presenters. - Bravo

[@RCAvhstape]

14:47 My dad served aboard USS Shangri-La and always talked about the Skyhawks. No way to tell, but possibly he was aboard the ship when this photo was taken.

[@michaelhilborn4204]

The F-5 ultimately morphed into the F-18 Hornet, an underrated airplane that is still capable and relevant today.

[@seumasnatuaighe]

An exceptionally good video. Well worth the time. I like aircraft like the F5, the OV10 and the Hughes 500D helicopter. They are rugged, multi-role platforms which performed as advertised

[@SimonWallwork]

Saw eight Canadian CF-116s at Prestwick, back in 1985. Wish I'd had a camera.

[@The_diffman]

So glad I found your channel. Your voice is awesome and I like your commentary too follow some facts. Thanks for making videos that are longer than the "optimized" length for revenue.

[@kevinmccorkle7476]

Great airframe. I think the US messed up by not procuring the F-20 Tigershark. General Yeager thought so.

[@geodkyt]

The F-16 more than filled the role the F-20 would have. However (as I commented above), the failure of the USAF to field even a nominal fleet of F-20s contributed greatly to the demise of the Tigershark - potential export customers decided they could get the fighters the US military *obviously* [sic] thought were superior (F-16 and F-18) - lack of *US* interest in the F-20 signaled to buyers that there *must* be something wrong with it, and that the follow-on support may be tenuous (because the USAF wouldn't be insisting on logical support for years to come).

[@brealistic3542]

Very good video. Very detailed, thanks for making it.

[@lynx-alpha2073]

damn i love this channel, such good content on such underrated topics

[@90lancaster]

A plane I've grown to appreciate even more since I found out it was designed in the 1950's.

[@kentl7228]

At 2:10 it say about Tom Jones as a design engineer. I'm impressed he wasn't just a singer. It is like the Steely Dan guitarist Jeff Baxter, who consults the Pentagon about missiles.

[@johnshepherd9676]

Radar homing missiles were largely ineffective until the 1970s. The AIM-7E had something like a 0.07 Pk in Vietnam.

[@acarrillo8277]

Wait exceeded the speed of sound on the first flight without afterburners... So this thing had super cruise before super cruise was cool!

[@Bob-b7x6v]

The Freedom Fighter and Talon were some of the longest-lived jets on Earth. ❤

[@WayneMoyer]

Even my old book of Northrop that I had didn't go into the F-5 as deeply as you did in this video. The F-5 is one of my favorite aircraft. I think you ran out of time to talk about the F-5G which did fix some of the issues of the earlier aircraft or maybe you can do something on the F-20 in a later video that really went all out on trying to make the best lightweight low cost fighter possible.

[@Deltarious]

I really don't think the MiG-15's success came as much of a surprise, given that the F-86 was an extremely similar aircraft, to the point where they are likely the closest matched independent aircraft designs between rival powers in history (at least of the jet age)...It was perhaps surprising that the soviets could *make* the thing in numbers, but not that it existed

[@Iggi-mv2ux]

19:05 is Pure Joy!

[@Bob-b7x6v]

Northrop always made the oddities. This one was more beautiful and simple than the rest.

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

the RAF's Jet Provost and Dominie trainer aircraft were also powered by engines originally intended for drones (the Bristol Siddeley Viper)

[@viewsandreviews180]

I’ve liked the F5, in all variants, since the first time I saw one. I believe it’s a shame the follow-up F20 never was produced. I believe it would’ve been superior to the F16 and cheaper to use and maintain.

[@wacojones8062]

Side Note: I saw one film on VHS tape from Nam showing F-104C using 2.75 in rocket pods. Lots of cluster drops the SUU7 pods with their early flat nose bomblets had a 50% dud rate. Many of the Nam shots were similar to ones you used for this video but in full color.

[@jspriver]

Can’t wait to watch this installment

[@rogerpennel1798]

The F-5 faced the same limitations as the F-104 before it. A small aircraft that lacked a capable multi-mode radar and weapons computer so it couldn't carry radar-guided missiles. However, the value of the era's radar-guided missiles is questionable. An updated F-5 with a modern multi-mode radar and a weapons computer is far more capable now than it was then and with these, it lives up to its full potential. An F-5 armed with Python IR and Radar-Guided missiles would be a potent aircraft.

[@minera7595]

For the F-104 part, there's an exception of Aeritalia (Fiat+Aerfer)-built F-104S, They are modified Starfighters that can carry AIM-7 (at the cost of it's M61 cannon), and AIM-9L, which is All-aspect IR missiles, They were in operational use since 1969 all the way to the dawn of 21st century!

[@ReviveHF]

The JF-17, legacy Hornet and Indigenous Defense Fighter were what F-5 supposed to be.

[@rogerpennel1798]

@@minera7595 - Like the F-5 it took many years before microprocessor technology allowed radars and weapons computers to be small enough to give it those capabilities.

[@rogerpennel1798]

@@ReviveHF - The F-16 is what the F-5 and F-104 was supposed to be too. Without microprocessor technology, the F-16 wouldn't have been a success and if the F-5 and F-104 had it they would have been far more successful. The F-104 was an F-16 without microprocessing and its raw performance was beyond the capabilities of the era's avionics.

[@danltiger]

Today I learned where the word 'skosh' came from, and that sledding behind a jet fighter was a thing. 🐅

[@Bob-b7x6v]

The F-5 was like the A-4, a lot of bang for not a lot of bucks. So odd for the Cold War where national surpluses were burned for the fastest and most advanced designs money could buy.

[@dtrain1634]

F-5 brilliant aircraft :)

[@glmm2001]

I suppose one of the reasons the F-5A was considered on par with fire control equipment with the MIG-21 F-13 was the fact it had no gyro gunsight, so the MIG would be ahead even with the rather poor sight it had. Some international users of the A/B series fitted gyro gunsights and more advanced sights better suited for both A/A and A/G work but the base model Freedom Fighter was on par with early Hurricanes and Spitfires on A/A work…

[@Bob-b7x6v]

Have-Doughnut gave us the F-16 Fighting Falcon/Viper! Now there was a love letter to the F-5 and MiG-21.

[@janwitkowsky8787]

So... a prototype of the F-5, was able to super-cruise in the late 1950s? Dayum.

[@Rorschach1024]

The F-5/T-38 is still the most beautiful aircraft I've ever seen.

[@kiereluurs1243]

I would think of the F-16 to start with. No, F-104, if from the same era!

[@kevincaselle3174]

great stuff here, well done!

[@Drelam]

Its a very sleek beautiful aircraft.

[@JosephDent-qd9ih]

Napepoon/ excellent drop vehicle.

[@mikemontgomery2654]

I have a soft spot in my heart for those jets.

[@runristenn3214]

Is it true that NASA has a number of F5's that all astronauts in training has to qualify to fly in order to become astronauts? The Freedom fighter is a very beautiful plane as it is so clean. All it needs to be effective against an enemy is there in a very small but sturdy airframe. And the two engines give the pilot added security as he knows that the plane can get him back home even if he loses one of them. I love the F5.

[@terryboehler5752]

Really Great presentation

[@johncook3265]

Love your videos

[@WickershamInc-x7p]

Steve Jones, Freedom Fighter ? Was the song inspired by the airplane. I certainly hope so.

[@thelandofnod123]

It was so good the Soviets copied it down to the rivet to produce the MiG-28, only the most discerning eye could tell them apart.

[@LafayetteCCurtis]

The South Vietnamese had a chance to use the F-5 in the air-to-air role it was suited to (i.e. a point-defence interceptor). How well did they do with it, accounting for factors like low morale in the VNAF and all that stuff? The Indonesian air force probably also had some experience making intercepts against RAAF Hornets during and shortly the 1999 Timor crisis, though as you said the F-5E/F was a different beast. Would still be interesting to dig those stories out.

[@sternencolonel7328]

No one was to buy a neutered starfighter, meanwhile Germany: "Hallo meine Freunde"

[@weirdguy564]

After South Vietnam fell, the Soviet Union was able to take a couple of F-5's back to Russia. They tested two of them against their own light fighter, the MiG-21. The F-5 was better in every way, including cost. They were not happy.

[@richardbennett1856]

Northrop got the shaft. Blame the McDonnell/Douglas and Boeing Lobbyists. Just because one designs a better fighter, it doesn't matter if congress won't approve the program. The F-20 was a bargin and performed as good as a F16 for half the cost. As an Air Force electrical technician, Northrop has ease of maintenance as a priority.

[@jeffarchibald3837]

Always loved the F5.

[@sadwingsraging3044]

Probably the most 'correct' looking fighter ever built. Seen a flight of 3 Talons out of Columbus blast over me last year. Probably the last time I ever see them.😢

[@martentrudeau6948]

Interesting airplane, I do like it.

[@LeonAust]

A simplified fighter/attack aircraft would not last very long over today's modern battlefield.

[@amerigo88]

Thank you. The F-5 over a modern battlefield seems a bit like throwing the FIAT CR. 42 biplane into the skies of 1943. Yes, it's lovely and maneuverable, but it's too underarmed and underpowered to compete with a P-47 or any Spitfire. Which of these sentimental living room pilots would actually want to take an F-5 over Ukraine and face off with Russian S-400 missiles and MiG-29 fighters in 2024?

[@Milkmans_Son]

It has to hold the #1 spot on the top chase plane list, yes?

[@mathewkelly9968]

Ah the F-5 with its amazing ability to carry a match box the length of a football field . The E/F though where very good

[@bosoerjadi2838]

I recognize that thumbnail, it's from the 1980s Matchbox model box cover.

[@DonMeaker]

Combat power is proportional to aircraft quality, but proportional to the square of the number of aircraft in the fight.

[@amandastevenson4948]

Imagine increasing its size by 25% like the mirage did that would have done in the Phantom 😢

[@jollyjohnthepirate3168]

The re engined and added fly by wire systems to the F 5 and made the F 20.

[@ivankrylov6270]

The ussr had a couple of F5s, and the test pilot supposedly would bet he could go up against any soviet fighter at the time And he did win pretty much every sim battle

[@garyyoung4074]

I,ve seen T-38's, and F-5B's for sale on "Trade a Plane". Always hoped to win the lotto!!!!

[@gerennichols6075]

I saw video somewhere on the Soviet's tests of South Vietnamese F-5's after the fall of Saigon with 2 Soviet star test pilots. Whoever had the F-5 won and their conclusion was do not engage an F-5 in an even fight.. The USAF had its reasonns to denigrate the plane that it did not want.

[@James77721]

All that and makes for a great sled tow too!!!

[@TheRumbles13]

Subbed!

[@rudolphpyatt4833]

I still think the F5G (F20) should have been acquired for the USAF. Frankly, if the tooling still exists, it would be valuable even now.

[@rbaxter286]

Maybe 'sharing some primary design requirements', but I DOUBT the F-5 was BUILT like a Warsaw Pact airplane.

[@thestarlightalchemist7333]

Did any nation have F-5s painted blue, by any chance? With a name like "Freedom Fighter", I see massive reference potential...

[@TheMelbournelad]

Can see the beginning of the f16

[@aaronsanborn4291]

The nick name scoshi tiger was actually the name of the operation

[@dirkellis9212]

Actually both engines could be swapped in less then an hr1/2 and on its way out to the trim pad was a crew chief

[@travistolbert2647]

Maybe my eyesight is failing but what is that behind that Mig-21 staring at 31:27? For the life of me that looks like A-6 Intruder trying for an air to air kill! lol

[@erictaylor5462]

7:30 They are going to launch that guy inti the trees? That seems a bit harsh.

[@steveneasterling8832]

The Army should be allowed to have close support fighters.

[@Archie2c]

Iran I guess just liked shiny things they had F5s F4s and F14s.

[@gregoryschmitz2131]

Great presentation though as usual some details are suspect. I suspect all a Mig-21 had to do was go vertical and the F-5 left behind. Tying a Mig-21 with its jet behind its tail is a typical USAF stunt. If the Mig-21 was stupid enough to play the game, all is good. If not, then the F-5 was hosed. That said, guns were an advantage but you had to catch the Mig-21. You don't need much AB to get separation, then the less than stellar Sidewinder would kick in. So a Mach 1.2 vs an F-4 at Mach 2.2? With the USAF? Not happening and the F-4 regardless was far more versatile. I like the F-5 a lot but air to air would have been a serious coin slip depending on the other guy as was found in Iran and the Somalian areas I believe

[@agidotexe7167]

bro dropped the mig15 code name so casually lol

[@manricobianchini5276]

Beautiful no bullcrap fighter! Shame it's career didn't go better. Stupid politics.

[@christophmahler]

_LOOKISM_ incoming... The God Emperor should have decreed to have Northrop supply all services just with the F-5 - so that by the 21st century, the Eternal Empire would field about 20.000 Super Hornet in addition to some 'stealth' craft...

[@whynot64928]

A cute looking fighter

[@therandomshow9994]

The f86 asserted its dominance over WHOM

[@ChucksSEADnDEAD]

MiG-15 Fagot

[@AakeTraak]

It's a pretty airframe