XBradTC

By

XBradTC

·

The Northrup F-5A

Here's a nifty little marketing video by Northrup circa 1961 showcasing the then new F-5A.   Did you notice they cheated a bit on the sod field landings? Normally the F-5 has a single nosewheel, but for the sod field trials, they used a dual nosewheel to lower the ground pressure.  Incidentally, that sod field…

Here's a nifty little marketing video by Northrup circa 1961 showcasing the then new F-5A.

 

Did you notice they cheated a bit on the sod field landings? Normally the F-5 has a single nosewheel, but for the sod field trials, they used a dual nosewheel to lower the ground pressure. 

Incidentally, that sod field trial was very likely a part of the US Army evaluation of the N-156F (the Northrup internal model number for the F-5A) as it was seeking to field its own fixed wing close air support capability. Other jets looked at included the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, and the Fiat G-91. 

Later variants of the F-5 are still in service with the US as adversary aircraft. 

Tags:

Responses to “The Northrup F-5A”

  1. SFC Dunlap 173d RVN

    Always liked the Fiat G-91 in a F-86 kinda way. Mayheps the Army should have been left to do their own CAS but for that pesky Key West thing.

    Like

  2. George V

    I got a ride once in the back seat of a T-38 in VF-43, the East coast Navy aggressor squadron for air combat training. The T-38 was built off the F-5. What a little hot rod it was. It had a relatively high takeoff and landing speed and the cockpit is close to the ground relative to the other jets the Navy flew at the time. Screaming down the runway at 150 knots with the perception that your backside is about to slide along the pavement makes you want to… go down the runway screaming!

    Like

  3. Quartermaster

    I loved the T-38.
    Lemay was AFCS at the time and the Admin wanted him to sell the thing, and he refused, calling it a second line fighter. Chuck Yeager liked the thing better than the F-4.

    Like

Leave a comment