Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter / T-38 Talon

1959


FIGHTER, TRAINING	Virtual Aircraft Museum / USA / Northrop

Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter / T-38 Talon

Designed to replace Lockheed T-33, F-5A flew on July 30, 1959. Entered production in October 1963. T-38 "Talon" with two seats flew on April 10, 1959.

Specification

CREW	1-2
ENGINE	2 x General Electric J-85-GE-13, 18.1kN
WEIGHTS
Take-off weight	9117 kg	20100 lb
Empty weight	3565 kg	7860 lb
DIMENSIONS
Wingspan	7.7 m	25 ft 3 in
Length	14.4 m	47 ft 3 in
Height	4.0 m	13 ft 1 in
Wing area	15.8 m²	170.07 sq ft
PERFORMANCE
Max. speed	M1.4	M1.4
Ceiling	16000 m	52500 ft
Range w/max payload	592 km	368 miles
ARMAMENT	2 x 20mm machine-guns

Comments

Klaatu83, e-mail, 28.12.2014 20:33

Although the USAF never used these airplanes as fighters Northrop sold a lot of them abroad for operational use by multitude of foreign Air Forces. Americans have always preferred big, heavy, cumbersome Cadillacs to small, light, fast and agile sports-cars; and that applies equally to combat aircraft.

Robert Garcia, e-mail, 02.10.2014 00:41

I had the great honor of working on the F-5E and the T-38 for the Navy "Topgun"squadron at Mira Mar NAS. The Navy used these aircraft as adversaries against the F-4 and FY-18. Sometimes there would be battle with the Marines Harrier jumpjet.

Rick, e-mail, 01.06.2014 03:12

One of my friends says that there was a war in which both sides flew the F-5. I cannot find any indication or proof of it.

Please email me if you know.

Grampa, e-mail, 09.09.2013 16:46

Recently the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum magazine (Sept page 38) referenced the T-38 as a "single-seat trainer". Has anyone ever heard of a conversion like this? I am familiar with the F-5 & F-20.

abdulrahman, e-mail, 17.08.2011 04:29

Hello , I'm Abdulrahman Mostafa from Egypt
I'm 19 years old , I want to study fighter aviation jet , What e conditions that are important for me to take it ? how long is the study ? how much does it cost ? is it signed internationally ? is there is a flying and fighting training in this course ? what is the scientific degree that I'll have ? Can I take it in English ?
After i finish the training process will get a certificate or license a fighter pilot?
Please , reply as fast as you can =

huawuke, 18.06.2011 11:48

Moreover, the first F-5 B also well preserved here. If you like this Northop family, I highly recommeded that you should not miss!

Gary F Norris, e-mail, 24.04.2011 23:29

The first T-38 I ever saw was when I went through the front gate upon arrival at Medina Base for OTS in 1966. The "White Rocket" was the prettiest thing I had ever seen. I first flew the T-38 in USAF UPT at Big Spring, Texas. A few years later I was a T-38 IP at Columbus AFB, MS. A few years after that, I flew her as a Functional Check Flight pilot at Reese AFB, Lubbock, TX. After 40 years of being in and around the cockpit, my opinion was always the same: The T-38 was the most fun airplane I ever flew and I would probably part with anything I own to fly her just one more time.

Bill Crielly, e-mail, 04.04.2011 01:04

I flew the T-38 for about 200 hours at USAF UPT at Moody AFB, GA. It was a great plane to fly. Loved every minute of it. Wish I could fly it one more time!

Steve Dandy, e-mail, 02.03.2011 03:02

I was at Technical Training School at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas from mid-August to early-December in 1972. The T-38 was being used for pilot training. Even today, NASA has T-38s as "chase planes." A simple, but beautiful aircraft.

Stretch, e-mail, 14.11.2010 22:35

I was a Crew Chief on F-5 at Williams (4441st CCCT Sq)Feb 66-Sept 68. then at RAF Alconbury, May 75-Aug 83.
Great Airplane to work on and --"If It Ain't Broke--Don't @#$& With It"!!

SAINT, e-mail, 30.09.2010 18:56

I'VE BEEN FLYING THIS A /C FOR 35 YEARS AND IT'S RELIABLE. WHEN I WAS AN AGGRESSOR WE HAD ALL THIS DATA ON THE F-4, F-15,F16,F14 &F18 WITH WHAT WAS GOOD AND BAD ABOUT EACH A /C. OTHERS HAD THE SAME SHEET AND ABOUT THE F-5 IT SAID, "HE WILL SHOW UP FOR THE FIGHT." WE DIDN'T ABORT MUCH, STILL DON'T.

chaiwat kosatanakom, e-mail, 12.10.2009 16:51

Please link to this webpage then you will experience of how the paper can create a wonderful airplane!
www.modelivery.com /webboard_941845_16243_th?lang=th

chaiwat kosatanakom, e-mail, 30.08.2009 18:06

You can visited the 1st production of F-5 A Freedom Fighter at Royal Thai Air Force museum. Moreover, the first F-5 B also well preserved here. If you like this Northop family, I highly recommeded that you should not miss!

Jock Williams, e-mail, 07.04.2009 17:26

I have over 1800 hrs flying the CF5 -the "Canadian version" -and loved every second of it!
As a fighter trainer it could do anything you ever needed -air combat, bombing and gunnery, low level navigation...you name it.
The only problem was that you could either go somewhere or fight -but not both -it didn't carry enough fuel if it had an external weapons load.
We used to laugh and say "Made by Mattel -its swell" -meaning that it was a nice toy -but you wouldn't want to go to war in it.
Unless of course the war was overhead your own airfield!
Nonetheless it helped Canada to "stay in the game" when our government was too cheap to buy a proper replacement. Finally we got the CF18 and it has been a resounding success.
Many wonderful memories of flying the CF5 though -it served Canada well!

Jock Williams

jeelocked, e-mail, 01.04.2008 21:59

See "Northrop T-38 Talon" (next in list) for comments on company funded devrelopement and dev history...

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