Canadair CF-5

CF-5/CF-116/NF-5 Freedom Fighter
Canadian Forces CF-5A Freedom Fighter on display on a stand at Trenton, Ontario
Role	Fighter-bomber
First flight	6 May 1968
Introduction	5 November 1968
Status	Retired from Canadian service in 1995, still in service with some countries
Primary users	Canadian Forces Royal Netherlands Air Force Venezuelan Air Force
Number built	240
Developed from	Northrop F-5

The Canadair CF-5 (officially designated the CF-116 Freedom Fighter) is the Canadair licensed-built version of the American Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter aircraft primarily for the Canadian Forces (as the CF-5) and the Royal Netherlands Air Force (as the NF-5). The CF-5 was upgraded periodically throughout its service career in Canada. The Canadian Forces retired the type in 1995, although CF-5s continue to be used by other countries.

The CF-5 was ordered by the Royal Canadian Air Force, which became part of the Canadian Forces on 1 February 1968. The new unified force took delivery of the first CF-5s (it was almost universally referred to as the CF-5 except in official documentation^[1]) at the end of 1968. Production by Canadair for the Canadian Forces was 89 single-seat aircraft, 46 dual-seat aircraft and 75 single-seat with 30 dual-seat aircraft for the Royal Netherlands Air Force, a total production of 240. Some surplus Canadian aircraft were sold to Venezuela.^[2][3]

Design and development

CF-5A at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

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. Selected originally to provide a tactical support role based in Canada, CF-5 squadrons were also committed to NATO's northern flank to act as 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.^[2]

Compared to the Northrop F-5, the Canadian CF-5 had several modifications to make it more suitable for operating in Canadian Forces theaters of operations. In order to address complaints about long takeoff runs, the Canadair version featured a two-position nose landing gear; compressed it operated like the original, but extended (before takeoff) it raised the nose and thereby increased the angle of attack and increased lift. The system reduced takeoff distance by almost 20%. A midair 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.

An order for 105 aircraft for the Royal Netherlands Air Force was signed in early 1967, 75 single-seaters to replace the Republic F-84 and 30 twin-seaters to replace the Lockheed T-33. Some single-seaters would be used for photo-reconnaissance to replace the Lockheed F-104G Starfighters in that role. Intended production of F-5 in Europe by Fokker and SABCA for both the Dutch and Belgian Air Forces was originally planned, but hesitancy by Belgium led to the Netherlands government ordering under a production sharing agreement with Canada.^[4] As part of the production sharing agreement between the Canadian and Dutch governments the centre fuselages for all but the first 31 aircraft were built by Fokker in the Netherlands.^[5]

The first CF-5 was formally rolled out in a ceremony at the Cartierville factory on 6 February 1968.^[6] The first NF-5 was rolled out on 5 March 1969.^[7]

Operational history

Canada

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

Initially 433 Squadron and 434 Squadron 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 Canadair CF-104 Starfighter, but was transitioned to the role of a rapid reaction squadron, being ready to deploy to Europe at short 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.^[2]

The training role was adopted by 419 Squadron at 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 McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet until the aircraft was retired in 1995. All remaining airframes were put into storage at CFD Mountain View.

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.

Operators

CF-5 of the Botswana Defence Force

Canadian Air Force CF-116 Freedom Fighter, displayed at CFB Borden

Greek CF-5B Freedom Fighter

NF-5B of the Turkish Air Force.

Venezuela Air Force Northrop (Canadair) VF-5A (CL-226)

Botswana

• Botswana Air Force^[2]
  • Z28 Squadron at Maparangwane Air Base^[8]

Canada

• Canadian Forces Air Command
  • 419 Squadron^[2]
  • 433 Squadron^[2]
  • 434 Squadron^[2]

Greece

• Hellenic Air Force
  • 12 NF-5s (10 NF-5As, one NF-5B and one NF-5B for spares) were donated to Greece in 1991 for use with 349 "Kronos" Squadron. They were withdrawn in 2001.
  • Sale of 28 used CF-5 offered in 2001 was unsuccessful and eventually the aircraft were disposed of.^[9]

Netherlands

• Royal Netherlands Air Force^[2] 105 NF-5 (75 single and 30 dual seaters) were introduced into service between 1969 and 1972, decommissioned in 1991
  • No. 313 Squadron; Twente Air Base (transitioned to F-16 in 1987)
  • No. 314 Squadron; Eindhoven Air Base (transitioned to F-16 in 1990)
  • No. 315 Squadron, Operation Conversion Unit (OCU); Twente Air Base (transitioned to F-16 in 1986)
  • No. 316 Squadron; Gilze-Rijen Air Base (transitioned to F-16 in 1991)
  • Field Technic Training Unit NF-5 (1971–1984); Twente Air Base

Tactical Air Support, Inc.

• In 2013, the company added four Canadair CF-5D Freedom Fighters and 20 years' worth of spare F-5 parts to its fleet.^[10]

Turkey

• Turkish Air Force
  • 134th Acroteam Squadron Command (10 NF-5A and 2 NF-5B in service for Turkish Stars aerobatic display team^[11])

Venezuela

• Venezuelan Air Force^[2]
  • Air Group 12 (Including 8 former Royal Netherlands Air Force NF-5's)

Aircraft on display

CF-5A on display at the Cold Lake Air Force Museum

• Air Force Heritage Museum and Air Park, Winnipeg, Manitoba^[12]
• Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum^[13]
• Defence Research and Development Canada – Toronto (DRDC) (mounted on Sheppard Avenue West), Downsview, Ontario^[14]
• Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Ottawa, Ontario^[15]
• Canadian War Museum Ottawa, Ontario – reconnaissance version^[16]
• Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario^[17]
• Cold Lake Air Force Museum^[18]
• Kamloops Airport^[19]
• National Air Force Museum of Canada, Trenton, Ontario^[20]
• Toronto/Markham Airport 2 located at Markham, Ontario^[21]

Specifications (CF-116)

General characteristics

• Crew: one–two
• 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 (Mach 1.3) (978 mph^[22])
• Range: 760 nmi (875 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 cannons in the nose, 280 rounds/gun
• Hardpoints: 5 with a capacity of 7,000 lb (3,200 kg) and provisions to carry combinations of:
  • Rockets: 2× CRV7 rocket pods
    or 2× LAU-10 rocket pods with 4× Zuni 127 mm rockets each
    or 2× Matra rocket pods with 18× 68 mm SNEB rockets each
  • Bombs: a variety of air-to-ground ordnance, such as the Mark 80 series of unguided iron bombs (including 3 kg and 14 kg practice bombs), U.S. CBU-24/49/52/58 and British BL755 cluster bomb munitions, M129 Leaflet bomb
  • Other: drop tanks for extended range
• Missiles: 2× AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles

See also

Related development

• Northrop F-5

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Dassault Étendard
• Fiat G.91
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

Related lists

• List of aircraft of Canada's air forces
• List of fighter aircraft

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Canadair CF-5 Freedom Fighter.

• CF-5 (CF-116) Freedom Fighter – Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum