Northrop F-5E Tiger II Aggressor Squadrons

[@JCMills55]

I was a crew chief on the F-5E's for the 527th Aggressor Squadron at Alconbury for 2 years. I loved it.

[@jlippert4102]

+John Mills I worked flightline 1978-1980

[@charleshale1101]

I was an assistant crew chief with the 65th from '84-'88, what a fun aircraft to maintain, but lots of late night/all nighters to keep them fully mission capable. Enjoyed the many TDY's all over CONUS and Canada.

[@twinturbozipper]

During the mid 1980's, the 527th Aggressor Squadron flew out of RAF Alconbury England and taught USAFE & NATO forces Air to Air combat over the Med. ALL PILOTS had something to learn. The majority of the Aggressor Pilots were Vietnam Vets with 1000's of hours of true trigger time. Pilots on the receiving end of the F-5E soon found out that no matter what they were flying, it's a trained pilot that matters. There were many close air collisions due to extreme concentration during flight.

[@billhungerford9378]

wow. this was awesome to see. I was a crew chief on the F5-E stationed at Nellis AFB in 1986-1989. Started out in the 64th then went to the 65th when the 64th closed it's doors.

[@eddiechip]

As did I

[@MrHansWay]

wow its amazing F-5 is short and small. but very powerful

[@wesleymccurtain166]

I love all of the camouflage designs they employ!

[@shaguar1]

They should build some F-20 planes for these Aggressor Squadrons too

[@airshowkg]

As of today, VFC-13 "Saints", VFC-111 "Sundowners" and VMFT-401 "Snipers" are the only remaining US squadrons flying the F-5 Tiger II. The home bases for these squadrons are Fallon Naval Air Station in Nevada, Key West Naval Air Station in Florida and Yuma Marine Corps Air Station in Arizona.

[@Jojo_Bee]

Short, small, but very agile. One of the cheapest ever produced as well. Manufactured in huge numbers, it could still be a serious threat. It is my understanding that the F-16s and F-18s were coincidentally developed under the same principles that the F-5 had -- Lightweight Tactical Fighter. No wonder, it is still in use today even by the US Navy for training with their TOPGUN pilots.

[@ragheadand420roll]

Life support at the 26th at clark Rip col femrite

[@MrLuvOldies]

The Northrop F-5E Tiger II was a Great Little Jet Fighter.Mmmmmmmm

[@geemanbmw]

F-15s are badass power

[@tomski787]

The Tac Ftr squadrons have been using these little beauties for decades. The follow-on aircraft was the F-17, which shows the F-5 heritage, and was co-opted by McDonnell Douglas as the F-18. Although Northrop was the original designer, on the F-18 they are only subcontractors, which proves that there is no justice in the aviation world.

[@Skybolter]

Those F-5E Tiger II they are totally awsome, i love thme, the only question is : Why they are not using those fighter jets for navy carrier operations ?

[@hv1615]

Skybolter F-5 has only 4 racks to carry bomb !!!

[@M4A108]

If you ask me F-5 series is good in air to air combat because of maneuvility.

[@panosgrf16]

Great video. Please can someone remind me the name of this documentary? I had it once on VHS.

[@Anlushac11]

Brazil just upgraded a number of F-5's that are intended to be hased out of service between 2017 to 2030. Chile still operate F-5's. Taiwan still operates F-5's. Over a dozen countries still fly F-5's but are in process of retiring them to buy newer more modern aircraft. Iran flies F-5's and locally produces a modified upgraded version called the Saeqeh. The HESH Saeqeh has more in common with Northrops P.550 Cobra.

[@twinturbozipper]

@Skybolter I think the landing gear was not strong enough to support hard carrier landing as well as it not being set up of catapult connection. Small wing area too made for longer takeoff roll possibly.

[@scarface8999]

@mattmatt115 Mig28, NO ONES EVER BEEN THAT CLOSE BEFORE!

[@sparrowlt]

Spain still uses F-5s in agressor/training roles

[@BRIANROX1]

theyre also based at topgun to train hornet pilots and soon F-35 pilots.

[@Shadx27]

Should have upgraded the aggressor squads to F-20's.

[@wink181]

Can you say G-LOC??!!! That's what killed the F-20 program.

[@4DWafflesGaming]

​@@wink181 What killed the F-20 was not "G-LOC" it was a lack of sales due to having to abide by a congressional contract. According to an issue of "Defence Week" written by Melissa Healy Titled "*Government Not Vigorous Salesman for Northrop F-20.*" it was stated that they HAD to submit all pieces of advertising to The State Department and it could take months for these to be released to possible buyers, this was in contrast to other companies like General Dynamics which could directly sell to any possible buyers. Another factor that led to the death of this program was the lack of interest in the government's part, they saw the aircraft as just another lackluster aircraft. This disinterest ignored the advantages this program had over other aircraft of the time. According to Northrop's estimates in a document for the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) written on June 7th, 1999: "It would've consumed 53% less fuel, required 52% less maintenance, and it would have a 63% lower operating cost than other contemporary aircraft." All of these advantages for the trade-off of less ordinance and a slightly shorter life-span than it's competition. This aircraft was based on the highly reliable and efficient airframe of the F-5E which was highly maneuverable and very aerodynamic, it was cheap to maintain and repair making it a fantastic export aircraft to poorer allies. On the same paper for the FAS, it was stated that this aircraft would cost 10.7 million compared to the 11 million of the f-16/79 which was its killer. According to Northrop, the aircraft could go from power-on to take-off in just 22 seconds giving it the fastest scramble time of all aircraft at the time. So the aircraft was clearly capable and could pull the exact same Gs as the f-16 meaning "G-LOC" did not kill it, it was a lack of interest by its own government to seek buyers for this aircraft.

[@sednicola]

Y me parece que es momento de ponerlos en un museo o de plano aun pueden entrar en accion en caso de necesitarlo??

[@skipplet]

@cort337 Yep. And my dad worked on those F-5s at Alconbury.

[@BlrHous]

Due to the lack of BVR weaponry, and decent avionics, it'll be toast when going up against modern gen4 (F16, F15, F18) or gen4.5 fighters (F18E, etc).

[@neofalcon79]

Is it the plane over the Swiss? If so it's too bizar to see them fly with these colors ...

[@chrisgardiner6771]

Anyone know the name of the tune at 0:50? I recognise it and have definitely heard it somewhere else, but can't remember what from.

[@mattmatt115]

WOW the famed (in usa) MiG-28!!!! damn!!!! (hahaha i wonder who will get that one...)

[@Skybolter]

Why this fighter jet (F-5E) it's not being used on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers ?

[@michaelweigel2466]

The US NAVY had own jets like the F14 or F18. With the F35 things have changed. However the F5 was never keeping their special requirements

[@morteparla6926]

Didn't meet requirements for the Navy. It was never designed too. Navy aircraft have 3 main design requirements: foldable wings, a reinforced landing gear, and the capability to land on and takeoff from an aircraft carrier - which results in a beefed up airframe.

[@BRIANROX1]

is the F-5 still in service with the USN?(as of 2009)

[@Skybolter]

@TheDutchLoyalist ARE YOU KIDDING ?

[@scarface8999]

@mattmatt115 Part of the movie.

[@mattmatt115]

@scarface8999 I dont get it?

[@mattmatt115]

@scarface8999 HA okay LOL sorry it went over my head at first,

[@Cash_McCoy]

Anyone fly or work on F-5's? I am curious about a couple things.

[@hv1615]

brettt777 What is your question buddy ?

[@13r4m]

these are retired right?

[@recordevo]

Mig 28! hahahaha

[@MrBabyStunna101]

F5 as done a good job in Somalia

[@มดแดง-ฃ3ข]

สงครามยุคใหม่ไม่ต้องมีตัวจริงตัวปลอม

[@cliffcharpentier34]

I wish these were russian. Cause then I would of been able to fly one. I don't see Grumman ever selling them to the public. Russia just sold a mig 29 to a private America citizen.

[@xraidedlok]

zomg 2:53 ufoz0rz

[@ARVIGERARD]

@dmtau There are a lot of inventions from the USA like the light bulb, the internet (originally called ARPA net) and the very computer your touching. I suggest you stop insulting other countries and glorifying your own. With people like you there will always be trouble.