Northrop RF-5E Tigereye

Northrop RF-5E Tigereye

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08/15/2008. Remarks by Bernhard Klein: "The pictured test vehicle was a production F-5E destined for sale to Iran, which Northrop leased back from the USAF. It was fitted with a new ten-inch longer nose that provided 26 cu ft (0.74 cu m) of space for cameras. A KS-87B camera could be mounted in the extreme nose, which had an optically flat viewing window. The twin 0.787 in (20 mm) cannon armament was retained.

The private venture 74-1420 took to the air for the first time on January 29, 1979, piloted by Northrop test pilot Darrell Cornell. Flight evaluation took place at Edwards AFB. Following the completion of flight-testing, the aircraft was converted back into standard F-5E configuration and sold to Brazil.

Only 12 RF-5E were built and sold; two to Malaysia, s/n M29-19 and M29-20 (USAF s/n 80-0333 and 80-0334, c/n RA.1001 and RA.1002) and 10 to Saudi Arabia, s/n 1708 to 1717 (USAF s/n 84-0194 to 84-0203, c/n TR.1001 to TR.1010)."


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08/15/2008. Remarks by Bernhard Klein: "The pictured test vehicle was a production F-5E destined for sale to Iran, which Northrop leased back from the USAF. It was fitted with a new ten-inch longer nose that provided 26 cu ft (0.74 cu m) of space for cameras. A KS-87B camera could be mounted in the extreme nose, which had an optically flat viewing window. The twin 0.787 in (20 mm) cannon armament was retained. The private venture 74-1420 took to the air for the first time on January 29, 1979, piloted by Northrop test pilot Darrell Cornell. Flight evaluation took place at Edwards AFB. Following the completion of flight-testing, the aircraft was converted back into standard F-5E configuration and sold to Brazil. Only 12 RF-5E were built and sold; two to Malaysia, s/n M29-19 and M29-20 (USAF s/n 80-0333 and 80-0334, c/n RA.1001 and RA.1002) and 10 to Saudi Arabia, s/n 1708 to 1717 (USAF s/n 84-0194 to 84-0203, c/n TR.1001 to TR.1010)."