Canadair CF-5

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CF-5/CF-116 Freedom Fighter
Canadian Air Force CF-5 Freedom Fighter
Type	Fighter-bomber
Manufacturers	Northrop Canadair
Designed by	Edgar Schmued
Introduced	1968
Retired	1995 (Canada)
Primary users	Royal Canadian Air Force Royal Norwegian Air Force Netherlands Air Force Venezuelan Air Force
Developed from	Northrop F-5

The CF-5 (officially designated the CF-116 Freedom Fighter) was the Canadair licensed-built version of the American Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter aircraft primarily for the Canadian Forces. The CF-5 was upgraded periodically throughout its service career in Canada. The Canadian Forces retired the type in 1995, although CF-5s continued to be used by other countries into the early 21st century.

The Royal Canadian Air Force took delivery of the first CF-5s (it was almost universally referred to as the CF-5 except in official documentation) at the end of 1968. Total production by Canadair for Canadian Forces was 89 single-seat aircraft and 46 dual-seat aircraft, but many were also built for the Netherlands and Norway as well, some surplus aircraft were sold to Venezuela.

Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Survivors 4 Variants 5 Operators 6 Specifications (CF-116) 7 Badges 8 See also 9 References 9.1 Notes 9.2 Bibliography 10 External links

[edit] Design and development

Originally designed by Northrop as a low-cost, low-maintenance fighter jet, the F-5 was intended for use by air forces that had limited resources and technical expertise to maintain a sophisticated aircraft. For Canada, which had an extensive aerospace industry, selection of the F-5 was seen as a step backwards and soon received the derisive RCAF nicknames, "Tinkertoy" or the "Supersonic Tinkertoy."^[1] Selected originally to provide a tactical support role based in Canada, the CF-5 was also committed to NATO's northern flank to act a rapid-deployment force. However, the role for the CF-5 throughout its service with the RCAF was changed frequently and eventually, the diminutive fighter would serve as a light attack strike fighter, reconnaissance platform and trainer (and it did perform well at air shows)^{[citation needed]}.

The Canadian version had several modifications to make it more suitable to operating in Canadian Forces theatres: A two-position nose gear was used, which shortened takeoff distance by almost 20%, a mid-air refueling probe was installed, Orenda built General Electric J85-15 engines, with 4,300 lbf (19 kN) thrust were used, and a more sophisticated navigation system was added. The nose of the CF-5 was also interchangeable with a specially designed reconnaissance set with four cameras in it. Over the course of its life, it received many upgrades to its avionics and capabilities.

[edit] Operational history

Initially 434 and 433 squadrons were the only two squadrons to operate the CF-5. It was intended that three squadrons would fly the aircraft, but due to budgetary restrictions, the excess aircraft were put into storage in CFB North Bay and CFB Trenton, some later being sold to other countries. 434 squadron was assigned to do lead-in tactical fighter training for the CF-104, but was transitioned to the role of a rapid reaction squadron, being ready to deploy to Europe at a moment's notice in the event of hostilities. The squadron moved to CFB Bagotville with 433 squadron, for a short time, and then on to CFB Chatham.

The training role was adopted by 419 squadron in CFB Cold Lake; it would continue to provide jet training, dissimilar air combat training (wearing quasi-Soviet "aggressor" paint schemes similar to USAF, USN and USMC F-5Es), and serve as a lead-in fighter trainer for the CF-18 until the aircraft was retired in 1995. All remaining airframes were put into storage at CFB Mountainview. In service use, although it had a reasonable accident rate, the CF-5 had also gained another jocular nickname, the "lawndart."^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Survivors

Only a few examples remain available in aircraft museums, including the Air Force Heritage Park at CFB Winnipeg, the Worthington Museum at CFB Borden, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, and a reconnaissance version at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

[edit] Variants

• CF-5A : Single-seat fighter version for the Canadian Forces, designation CF-116A. 89 built.
• CF-5A(R) : Single-seat reconnaissance version for the Canadian Forces. Built in small numbers. Canadian Forces designation CF-116A(R).
• CF-5D : Two-seat training version for the Canadian Forces, CF-116D. 46 built.
• NF-5A : Single-seat fighter version for the Royal Netherlands Air Force. 75 built.
• NF-5B : Two-seat training version for the Royal Netherlands Air Force. 30 built.
• VF-5A : Single-seat fighter version for the Venezuelan Air Force.
• VF-5D : Two-seat training version for the Venezuelan Air Force.

[edit] Operators

 Botswana

• Botswana Air Force

 Canada

• Royal Canadian Air Force
  • No. 419 Squadron RCAF
  • No. 433 Squadron RCAF
  • No. 434 Squadron RCAF

 Greece

• Hellenic Air Force

 Netherlands

• Netherlands Air Force
  • No. 313 Squadron
  • No. 314 Squadron
  • No. 315 Squadron
  • No. 316 Squadron

 Norway

• Royal Norwegian Air Force

 Turkey

• Turkish Air Force

 Venezuela

• Venezuelan Air Force

[edit] Specifications (CF-116)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1-2
• Length: 47 ft 2 in (14.38 m)
• Wingspan: 25 ft 10 in (7.87 m)
• Height: 13 ft 2 in (4.01 m)
• Wing area: 186 ft² (17.28 m²)
• Empty weight: 8,681 lb (3,938 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 20,390 lb (9,249 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× Orenda-built GE J85-15 turbojet
  • Dry thrust: 2,925 lbf (13.0 kN) each
  • Thrust with afterburner: 4,300 lbf (19.1 kN) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 1,575 km/h (978 mph ^[2])
• Range: 760 nmi (660 mi, 1,400 km)
• Service ceiling 41,000 ft (12,000 m)
• Rate of climb: 34,400 ft/min (10,500 m/min)

Armament

• Guns: 2× 20 mm (0.787 in) Pontiac M39A2 cannon, 280 rounds/gun
• Missiles: AIM-9 Sidewinder
• Bombs: 7,000 lb (3,200 kg) mixed
  • M129 Leaflet
  • 500 lb (225 kg) Mk-82
  • 2,000 lb (900 kg) Mk-84
  • CBU-24/49/52/58 Cluster

[edit] Badges

CF-5 crest worn by Canadian Forces aircrew and ground crew in the mid-1970s

[edit] See also

Related development

• Northrop F-5
  

Comparable aircraft

• Aeritalia G.91
• Dassault Étendard
• Mikoyan MiG-21
  

Related lists

• List of fighter aircraft
• List of military aircraft of Canada
  

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] External links

• RCAF.com: The History and Heritage of Canada's Aircraft
• Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum: Canadair CF-5 Freedom Fighter

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