History

Text about the development.

Versions.

Text about version.

 

Technical information
Dimensions:
Length: 14,36 m Wingspan: 7,83 m
Height: 3,99 m Wing area: 15,79 m2
Weights:
Empty weight: 4010 kg Max. start weight: 9900 kg
Performances:
Max. speed: 1275 km/hr Climbing speed: - m/min
Cruising speed: - km/hr    
Range: 2000 km Service ceiling: 14500 m
Miscellaneous:
Engine type: Two General Electric (Orenda) J-85-CAN-15 rated 1978 kg each
Crew: One aiator (NF-5A0; Two men (NF-5B)
Armament: 2 x M39A.3 20mm guns, 2 x AIM-9J sidewinders, 2000 kg bombs
  Range without external tanks 350 km; with external tanks 2000 km

 


Information about Dutch aircraft.

 

N81 01B 13 V2

Northrop NF-5A K3040, photographed at the Static Show at the Open Day Dutch Air Force, September 1981 at air base Soesterberg.

N84 03 25 V2

Northrop NF-5B K-4017, photographed at the Static Show at the Open Day Dutch Air Force, September 1984 at air base Soesterberg.

 


Video's Northrop NF-5 RNlAF

 

 
 
   

 


Serial overview Northrop NF-5A and Northrop NF-5B

Serial overview Northrop NF-5A

Serial
Serial
Constr. nr.
Constr. nr.
Date in service
Date in service
Date out of service
Date out of service
Notes
Notes
K-3001 3001     To Turkey
K-3002 3002   28-03-1973 Written off
K-3003 3003     Gilze-Rijen
K-3004 3004     To Turkey
K-3005 3005     To Greece
K-3006 3006     Written off
K-3007 3007     Scrapped
K-3008 3008     Scrapped
K-3009 3009   01-11-1974 Written off
K-3010 3010     Written off
K-3011 3011     Preserved, to Military Aviation museum at Soesterberg.
K-3012 3012     To Greece
K-3013 3013     To Turkey
K-3014 3014     To Greece
K-3015 3015     To Turkey
K-3016 3016     To Turkey
K-3017 3017     To Greece
K-3018 3018     To Turkey
K-3019 3019     To Turkey
K-3020 3020     Preserved, to NLC Hoofddorp
K-3021 3021     To Turkey
K-3022 3022     To Turkey
K-3023 3023     To Turkey
K-3024 3024     To Turkey
K-3025 3025     To Turkey
K-3026 3026     Written off
K-3027 3027     To Turkey
K-3028 3028     Scrapped
K-3029 3029   11-07-1975 Written off. Air base Twenthe
K-3030 3030     Scrapped
K-3031 3031     To Greece
K-3032 3032     To Turkey
K-3033 3033     To Greece
K-3034 3034     Gilze-Rijen
K-3035 3035     To Turkey
K-3036 3036     To Turkey
K-3037 3037   13-05-1971 Written off
K-3038 3038     Written off
K-3039 3039     To Turkey
K-3040 3040     Scrapped
K-3041 3041     To Turkey
K-3042 3042     To Turkey
K-3043 3043     Scrapped
K-3044 3044     Crailo
K-3045 3045     Preserved; to HTS Haarlem
K-3046 3046     To Turkey
K-3047 3047     To Greece
K-3048 3048     To Turkey
K-3049 3049     To Turkey
K-3050 3050     Written off
K-3051 3051     To Turkey
K-3052 3052     To Turkey
K-3053 3053     Written off
K-3054 3054     To Turkey
K-3055 3055     To Turkey
K-3056 3056     Scrapped
K-3057 3057     To Venezuela
K-3058 3058     To Turkey
K-3059 3059     Written off
K-3060 3060     Scrapped
K-3061 3061     To Greece
K-3062 3062     To Greece
K-3063 3063     Scrapped
K-3064 3064   18-07-1972 Written off
K-3065 3065     Scrapped
K-3066 3066     To Turkey
K-3067 3067     To Turkey
K-3068 3068     Eindhoven
K-3069 3069     To Greece
K-3070 3070     To Turkey
K-3071 3071   03-10-1973 Crashed and used for instructional purposes as 'NAC-7';
Scrapped
K-3072 3072     To Turkey
K-3073 3073     To Greece
K-3074 3074   02-08-1974 Written off
K-3075 3075   07-07-1977 Written off

 

Serial overview Northrop NF-5B

Serial
Serial
Constr. nr.
Constr. nr.
Date in service
Date in service
Date out of service
Date out of service
Notes
Notes
K-4001 4001     To Turkey
K-4002 4002     To Venezuela
K-4003 4003     Sold, became N3206Y
K-4004 4004   24-04-1975 Written off
K-4005 4005     To Turkey
K-4006 4006     To Venezuela
K-4007 4007     To Turkey
K-4008 4008     To Venezuela
K-4009 4009     To Turkey
K-4010 4010     To Venezuela
K-4011 4011     Preserved, to Military Aviation Museum at Soesterberg.
K-4012 4012     Preserved, to MTS Zwolle
K-4013 4013     To Turkey
K-4014 4014     To Turkey
K-4015 4015     To Turkey
K-4016 4016     To Turkey
K-4017 4017     To Turkey
K-4018 4018     To Venezuela
K-4019 4019     To Turkey
K-4020 4020     To Turkey
K-4021 4021     To Turkey
K-4022 4022   22-06-1976 Written off
K-4023 4023     Written off
K-4024 4024     To Turkey
K-4025 4025     To Turkey
K-4026 4026     To Turkey
K-4027 4027     To Greece
K-4028 4028     Preserved, to MTS Tilburg
K-4029 4029     To Turkey
K-4030 4030     Tor Venezuela

 


Of the Northrop F-5 quite a few different models are available. Most of these kits are of a different type F-5 than the NF-5, which differs at some points of the F-5.
In fact, the only correct models are those of ESCI / Revell / Italeri.
In the scale 1/48 as far as I know, no models of the NF-5 are issued. You may convert an existing model of an F-5A/B.

1/72nd Scale

Kits

  • Airfix
    • Kit 123 / 01043 / A50081: Northrop F-5A, missing several items of the NF-5, such as tip tanks and nose gear.
  • ESCI
    • Kit 9032: a (N)F-5A kit.
    • Kit 9038 : a RF-5
      • Both kits 9032 and 9038 were released early eighties and are based on the same moulds. With both kits one is able to built a quite good and adequate model of the NF-5A. Both are equipped with two types nose gear, two adequate tip tanks, one centreline tank and two underwing 150 gallon tanks and also two sidewinders. Paul Gols mentions some minor shortcomings in MIP nr. 1, 1986, such as the hinges of the canopy, the incorrect location of the passive ECM on the vertical stabilizer and the lamps are to large.
    • Kit 9035 A NF-5B.
  • Hasegawa
    • kit number AO16:250;N is also a model of the original F-5, though this kit has decals for an aircraft of the RNLAF, but the tip-tanks are not correct, you'd better replace them with those from the Hasegawa T-38 Talon model.
  • Italeri
    • Kit 1275 this is the same kit as the ESCI NF-5B kit.
    • Kit 1241: this is the former ESCI kit no 9032
  • Matchbox
    • Kit PK-16: A Northrop F-5A; it has the same shortcomings as the hasegawa kit, though the tiptanks are better.
    • Kit PK-39: A Northrop F-5B; same kit as PK-16, with extra parts.
  • Pioneer
    • Kit PM203: Northrop F5A Freedom Fighter
  • Revell
    • Kit 4343 a release dated in 1986 of originally ESCI kit 9032. This kit was equipped with decals for an aircraft painted in the first display scheme. The blue colour on the decals is to light of shade. Some years ago Revell re-released on of the former ESCI kits
    • Kit 4314: The same as the former NF-5B kit of ESCI
  • Wolfpack
    • Kit 17201: Northrop F5A ''Freedom Fighter'' (ex ESCI)
    • Kit 17203: Northrop F5A ''Skoshi Tiger'' (ex ESCI)
Northrop NF5A-IMG 8688

A model of the Northrop NF-5A in the default delivery scheme.
The kit used is the ESCI kit; the decals used come from several sets from Superscale and the kit.

Northrop NF5A-IMG 8689
Northrop NF5A-IMG 8693

A model of the Northrop NF-5A in the last overall grey colour scheme.
The kit used is the ESCI kit; the decals used come from several sets from the kit and of Dutch Decal set 72010 and 72016.

Northrop NF5A-IMG 8692
Northrop NF5B-IMG 8686

A model of the Northrop NF-5B in the default delivery scheme.
The kit used is the ESCI kit; the decals used come from several sets from Superscale and the kit.

Northrop NF5B-IMG 8687
Northrop NF5B-IMG 8685

A model of the Northrop NF-5A in the default delivery scheme.
The kit used is the ESCI kit; the decals used come from the kit and Dutch Decal set 72010 and 72016.

IMG 8685
 
A model of a Northrop NF-5B, based upon the Hasegawa kit of the T-38 Talon, built by Adri Kleijn.
Northrop NF 5B 316 Sqn AKleijn
A model of a Northrop NF-5B, the ESCI model, built by Adri Kleijn.
Northrop NF 5B 315 Sqn AKleijn
A model of a Northrop NF-5A, the ESCI kit, built by Adri Kleijn.
Northrop NF 5A 313 Sqn bedankt NF 5 AKleijn
A model of a Northrop NF-5A, the ESCI model, built by Adri Kleijn.
Northrop NF 5A Red skins go F 16 AKleijn
A model of a Northrop NF-5A, the ESCI model, built by Adri Kleijn.

Modelling add-on

Many sets are intended for a Northrop F-5A/B/E and not specific to an NF-5A / B
Parts of these sets might be useful for the NF-5.

  • Aeroclub
    • Set V163: Northrop F5A/B Undercarriage
  • Eduard
    • Set SS168: Detail-set F5E Tiger (Italeri)
  • Flight Path
    • Set 72-126 / 72-126B: European Air Force Access Ladder Set (Macchi 326,G91, F5) / F5 Freedom Fighter/T38 Talon.
  • Model Technologies
    • Set MT0058: F5E,F/F20/X29 Canopy Detail Set
  • True Details
    • Set 72404: Northrop F5-T38 Ejection Seat

Decals

  • Allmark
    • set S6: a set representing the 'Double Dutch'-team in 1988. The set offers two versions, the early scheme, without the "Double Dutch" badge on the fuselage and the later scheme. Decals for 5 x NF-5A's of the 'Double Dutch'-team are provided, K-3012, K-3014, K-3042, K-3054 en K-3072.
  • Modeldecal
    • Set no 97: the same subject as Allmark S6
    • Set no 30: provides decals for an Dutch NF-5 in original standard colour-scheme.
  • Dutch Decal
    • Set 72010: provide decals for Dutch NF-5's.
    • Set 72016: provide decals for Dutch NF-5's.
    • Set Dutch museum planes 2: provide decals for Dutch museum planes such as Seahawk FGA50, Sikorsky S58, NF5B, Do24.
    • Set72080: Dutch Jets (Meteor F MK4/8, Lockheed T33, NF5A/B).
    • Set72081: Serial and registrations KLu Meteor F MK4/T7/ F Mk8, Lockheed F104G/TF104G, NF5A/B, F16A/B).
  • Super Scale set
    • Set no 72-135: provides decals for an Dutch NF-5 in original standard colour-scheme.

1/48th Scale

Kits

  • Tanmodel - Tigerhobbies
    • Kit 48002: Northrop F5C Skoshi Tiger
    • Kit 48001: Northrop F5A Freedom Fighter
  • Testors
    • Kit 7521: Northrop F5A Freedom Fighter
  • Kinetic Model Kits
    • Kit K-48021: Northrop F5B Freedom Fighter

Modelling add-on

  • Scale Aircraft Conversions
    • Set 48193: Northrop F5A, CF5a, NF5A Landing gear (Kinetic)
  • Eduard
    • Set E49-619 / FE619: Detailset Northrop F5A Interior Self Adhesive (Kinetic)
    • Set E48-750: Detailset Northrop F5A Exterior (Kinetic)

Decals

  • Dutch Decal
    • Set 48045: F86K Kaasjager and NF5A/B (KLu).

Scheme Colour name FS number RAL Humbrol XtraColor Vallejo Model Color Vallejo Model Air Hataka
Standard #1: Delivery scheme Upper surfaces Dark grey   7012 79   70.869 71.123 ~192
Dark green   6014   X251 - - ~193
Undersides Light grey   7001 128 X135 70.990 71.046? ~189
First interim scheme applied to many aircraft; Camouflage pattern as scheme #1 applied from beginning of the eighties.
Standard #2 Upper surfaces Dark grey ~6118   125 X130 70.836 71.053 ~031
Medium grey ~6270     X133 70.870   ~054
Undersides Light Grey ~6375   127 X136 70.990 71.046 ~037
F-16 scheme applied to some aircraft, variations in type roundels and serials.
Standard #3 Upper surfaces Dark Grey ~6118   125 X130 70.836 71.053 ~031
Medium grey ~6270     X133 70.870 - ~054
Undersides Light Grey ~6375   127 X136 70.990 71.046 ~037
Definitive scheme: Applied from mid eighties to most active aircraft.
Standard #4 Upper surfaces Medium grey ~6270     X133 70.870 - ~054
Undersides Light Grey ~6375   127 X136 70.990 71.046 ~037

Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.

Northrop NF-5A

Northrop NF5A 1-SMALL
Northrop NF-5A K-3003 in the three tone camouflage pattern at delivery.
Northrop NF5A 1-SMALL
Northrop NF-5As in the three tone camouflage pattern.
Northrop NF5A 3-SMALL
Northrop NF-5A K-3061 in the three tone camouflage pattern applied to some aircraft from about mid 1983.
The original RAL colours are replaced with the Federal Standard colours as applied on the General Dynamics F-16. Aircraft stencilling remained unchanged.
Northrop NF5A 4A-SMALL
Northrop NF-5A K-3058 in a third colour schema, the so called F-16 scheme; aircraft stencilling and colours remained unchanged.
Northrop NF5A 4B-SMALL
Northrop NF-5A K-3028 in a variant of the third colour scheme. The serial has been moved from the nose to the tail in its original size.
Northrop NF5A 4B Fake Cockpit-SMALL
Northrop NF-5A K-3058 in a variant of the third colour scheme. A fake cockpit has been added to the underside of the nose.
Northrop NF5A 4C-SMALL
Northrop NF-5A K-3058 in a variant of the third colour scheme.The serial has been applied on the tail in smaller size. Soon the stencilling was replaced with a toned down version.
Northrop NF5A 5-SMALL
Northrop NF-5A in the two tone camouflage as applied from about mid eighties.
Northrop NF5A 5 QRA-SMALL
Northrop NF-5A in the two tone camouflage as applied from about mid eighties and in the so called QRA configuration, because not enough F-16s were available to accomplish this task.

 

Northrop NF5B-1-SMALL
Northrop NF-5A K-3062: Special scheme because of conversion of 314 squadron from NF-5 to F-16.
Northrop NF5B-1-SMALL
Northrop NF-5K-3045: 1988 Special scheme because of conversion of 313 squadron from NF-5 to F-16 and the Dutch Championship Football 1988.

 

Northrop NF-5B

Northrop NF5B-1-SMALL
Northrop NF-5B K-4003 in the three tone camouflage at delivery.
Northrop NF5B-1-SMALL
Northrop NF-5Bs in the three tone camouflage.
Northrop NF5A 2
Northrop NF-5A K-4014 in a three tone camouflage pattern as applied from 1983. The original RAL colours have been replaced with the Federal Standard colours as used on the General Dynamics F-16. The stencilling was unchanged.
Northrop NF5B 3
Northrop NF-5B K-4012 in the second test camouflage scheme, the so called F-16 scheme combined with toned down stencilling.
Northrop NF5B 4
Northrop NF-5B K-4009 in the two tone standard camouflage as applied from about mid eighties.

Literature.

Aircraft number 4 Canadair CF-5 Canadian Profile Bob McIntyre Pag. 1985 Uitgever: Sabre Model Supplies Ltd., Ottawa
AVIA: 34e jaargang nummer 3: Het gaat SPOKEN bij de Luchtmacht Dick van der Aa Pag. 94 - 95 1975 Uitgevers Wyt, Rotterdam
AVIA: 40e jaargang nummer 9: Northrop NF-5: Lichte maar formidabel jachtbommenwerper Pag. 372 - 379 1981 Uitgevers Wyt, Rotterdam
AVIA: 42e jaargang nummer 7: Twee maal foto van demonstratie NF-5 van 314 squadron Pag. 218 - 1983 Uitgevers Wyt, Rotterdam
Camouflage en Kentekens J.Greuter e.a. 1997 Bonneville – Bergen (NH)
De Northrop NF-5 De geschiedenis van NF-5 in Nederland. C.J. van Gent, Pag. 1992 Uitgeverij De Alk, Alkmaar
DemoTeams van de Koninklijke Luchtmacht Antoon Louwers Pag. 68 - 72 1988 Uitgeverij De Alk, Alkmaar
Dutch Military Aviation 1945-1978 Paul A. Jackson Pag. 96; 102 - 104 1978 Uitgever: Midland Countries Publications, Leicester
KLu Vliegtuigen: De vliegtuigen van de Koninklijke Luchtmacht vanaf 1913 Wim Schoenmaker & Thijs Postma Pag. 141 - 143 1987 Uitgeverij De Alk, Alkmaar
Koninklijke Luchtmacht 70 C. van der Velden & E. Ragas Pag. 14 - 17 1983 Uitgever: AMBooks, Bromley, Kent
Luchtvaartwereld; 3e jaargang nummer 9: Demonstratieteams van de Klu Hans Heerkens Pag. 247 - 250 1986 Uitgeverij Ten Brink, Meppel
Luchtvaartwereld; 5e jaargang nummer 6: De visitekaartjes van de Luchtmacht. Herman Sixma & Theo van Geffen Pag. 172 - 177 1988 Uitgeverij Ten Brink, Meppel
Luchtvaart; 12e jaargang nummer 12: Eindbestemming: 'De eeuwige jachtvelden' Herman Sixma & Theo van Geffen Pag. 20 - 22 1995 Uitgeverij Ten Brink, Meppel
Modelbouw in Plastic jaargang 7, nummer 3: Northrop NF-5A Gerard Wind & G.J. Grootewal Pag. 82 - 92 1978 Uitgever: I.P.M.S. Nederland, Nederland
Modelbouw in Plastic jaargang 14, nummer 4: NF-5 deel 1 Frans van 't Hof Pag. 74 - 77 1985 Uitgever: I.P.M.S. Nederland, Nederland
Modelbouw in Plastic jaargang 15, nummer 1: NF-5A/B deel 2 Frans van 't Hof & Paul Gols Pag. 12 - 20 1986 Uitgever: I.P.M.S. Nederland, Nederland
Modelbouw in Plastic jaargang 15, nummer 2: Reacties van leden: NF-5 Frans Scheve Pag. 1986 Uitgever: I.P.M.S. Nederland, Nederland
Modelbouw in Plastic jaargang 16, nummer 3: NF-5 ' Fake Cockpit' Fred Bachofner Pag. 54 - 55 1987 Uitgever: I.P.M.S. Nederland, Nederland
Modelbouw in Plastic jaargang 17, nummer 1: Nogmaals NF-5 met 'fake cockpit' Fred Bachofner Pag. 6 - 1988 Uitgever: I.P.M.S. Nederland, Nederland
Modelbouw in Plastic jaargang 17, nummer 3: Agressors Vos, Arie & Sagius, Rien Pag. 71 - 72 1988 Uitgever: I.P.M.S. Nederland, Nederland
Modelbouw in Plastic jaargang 18, nummer 3: Aanvalluh! Frans Scheve Pag. 66 - 67 1989 Uitgever: I.P.M.S. Nederland, Nederland
Nederlandse Militaire Luchtvaart in Beeld. deel 2 Hugo Hooftman Pag. 142 - 145 1978 Uitgever: Europese Bibliotheek, Zaltbommel
Squadrons van de Koninklijke Luchtmacht Willem Helfferich Pag. 17 - 18; 38; 93 - 94 1983 Uitgever: Unieboek b.v., Houten
Van Brik tot Starfighter H. Hooftman 1965 La Rivière en Voorhoeve - Zwolle
Van Luchtvaartafdeling tot Koninklijke Luchtmacht 75 jaar Militaire Luchtvaart in Nederland Koos van de Berg Pag. 54 1987 Uitgever: Rebo Produkties, Sassenheim

Websites.

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