Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-5>HA3359
Northrop Grumman RF-5E Royal Saudi Air Force
General Background
The Northrop F-5 tactical fighter was designed as an extremely maneuverable, supersonic fighter with a high rate of reliability at a low operating cost. The F-5 first flew on July 30, 1959 with the first customer delivery in 1964. The last of more than 2,600 F-5’s was produced in 1989 and about two-thirds of these are still in service with 26 countries more than 4 decades later. The F-5 was manufactured by Northrop Grumman and under license in Canada, Taiwan, South Korea, Spain and Switzerland.
The Aircraft
The Royal Saudi Air Force purchased Northrop Grumman F-5Bs and F-5Es with the first
being delivered by in-flight Trans-Atlantic crossings arriving in February 1974. The first two
squadrons were operational by late 1975 and began to replace the BAC Lightning. By 1977
there were 35 F-5s based at Dhahran and 35 at Khamis Mushait. By 1978 the F-5E was
the Saudi main multi-role fighter. In January 1985 the first of 10 RF-5Es began to arrive. At
least 4 of the RF-4Es arrived with all black paint schemes.
Specifications :
| Specification for the Northrop F-5E/ F-5F Tiger II | |
| Number Built: | 1,400 + E/F |
| Role F-5F: | Two-seat Combat Trainer Version Of The F-5E Tiger II |
| Dimensions | |
| Length (F-5E): | 47 feet 4.75 inch (14.65 m) |
| Length (F-5F): | 51 feet 4 inch (15.65 m) |
| Wingspan F-5E & F-5F: | 26 ft 8 in) |
| Height (F-5E): | 13 feet 4 inch (4.06 m) |
| Height (F-5F): | 13 feet 1.75 inch (4.01 m) |
| Weight | |
| Empty Weight (F-5E): | 9,723 lb (4,410 kg) |
| Empty Weight (F-5F): | 10,576 lb (4,797 kg) |
| Max Take-off Weight (F-5E): | 24,722 lb (11,214 kg) |
| Max Take-off Weight (F-5F): | 25,152 lb (11,409 kg) |
| Performance | |
| Powerplant: | 2 x General Electric J85-GE-21B Turbojets With 5,000 lb.s.t. With Afterburning |
| Maximum Speed F-5E: | Mach 1.64 @ 36,000 ft |
| Maximum Speed F-5F: | Mach 1.55 @ 36,000 ft |
| Range (F-5E): | 1,545 nm (2,863 km) |
| Range (F-5F): | 1,270 nm (2,353 km) |
| Service Ceiling (F-5E): | 51,800 ft (15,780 m) |
| Service Ceiling (F-5F): | 50,800 ft (15,484 m) |
| Max Rate of Climb (F-5E): | 34,500 feet/min |
| Max Rate of Climb (F-5F): | 32,900 feet/min |
| Armament | 1 x In-Nose 20mm M39A2 Cannon With 140 Rounds |
| 2 x AIM-9 Sidewinder Missiles On Wing Tips | |
| 5 x Pylons Capable Of Carrying Up To 7,000 lbs. Of Ordnance Or Fuel | |
| 1 x Under Fuselage Center-line | |
| 4 x Under Wing (2/Wing) |