Subject: New Fighter Series--Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter (3 of 11)

From: [email-masked]
Date: 28 Jul 94 00:41:27 GMT

>From [email-masked]

The RF-5A is the reconnaissance version of the F-5A.  It retains some 
combat capability with the additional provision of four KS-92 cameras 
mounted in the nose.  It could be distinguished from its single-
seat fighter cousin by the rather angular nose cutouts for the camera
ports.  The aircraft was otherwise quite similar to the F-5A. 

The first of 89 RF-5As was delivered in the late 1960s.  The first 
customer was the Imperial Iranian Air Force, followed by the air 
forces of Greece, Morocco, Norway, South Korea, South Vietnam, 
Thailand, and Turkey.  

Serial numbers of RF-5A Freedom Fighter:

67-21219/21231		Northrop RF-5A-35-NO Freedom Fighter
67-21232/21235		cancelled contract for Northrop RF-5A Freedom Fighter
68-9097/9113		Northrop RF-5A-40-NO Freedom Fighter
68-10489/10490		Northrop RF-5A-40-NO Freedom Fighter
69-6487/6502		Northrop RF-5A Freedom Fighter - contract cancelled
69-7137/7173		Northrop RF-5A-45-NO Freedom Fighter  
69-7178/7180		Northrop RF-5A Freedom Fighter - cancelled contract 
70-1614/1622		Northrop RF-5A-40-NO Freedom Fighter
71-0277/0279		Northrop RF-5A-NO Freedom Fighter
71-1029/1032            Northrop RF-5A-55-NO Freedom Fighter
71-1035/1038		Northrop RF-5A-NO Freedom Fighter

Sources:

  The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.

  Jane's American Fighting Aircraft of the 20th Centry, Michael J.H.
  Taylor, Mallard Press

  Modern Air Combat, Bill Gunston and Mike Spick, Crescent, 1983.

  United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and
  Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.

  Post-World War II Fighters: 1945-1973, Marcelle Size Knaac,
  Office of Air Force History, 1986.

  F-5: Warplane for the World, Robbie Shaw, Motorbooks, 1990

  The World Guide to Combat Planes, William Green, Macdonald, 1966. 

  Fighters of the United States Air Force, Robert F. Dorr and
  David Donald, Temple Press/Aerospace, 1990

  The World's Great Attack Aircraft, Gallery, 1988.

  Northrop F-5/F-20, Jerry Scutts, Ian Allan Ltd, 1986.

Joe Baugher			**************************************
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