Northrop N-156F YF-5A Freedom Fighter

Northrop N-156F YF-5A Freedom Fighter

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The following text from Aviation Week is not unique to the aircraft pictured:
06/05/1961. Northrop still hopes to find a market for its N-156 lightweight supersonic development of the T-38 trainer as an interceptor and fighter-bomber, particularly in small countries with limited military budgets. In negotiations with USAF, Northrop offered a firm fixed price of $450,000 based on a minimum order of 650 aircraft.
09/02/1963. First production version of the Northrop F-5A fighter is fitted with seven external stores stations.... Previous aircraft, carrying identification numbers FA-987 (pictured above) and FA-988 were prototypes built under the N-156 program. The production airplane has now entered flight testing at Edwards AFB, California, USA.
01/17/1966. Northrop F-5A jet fighters on Project "Skoshi Tiger" flew 1,438 sorties over South Vietnam and delivered 2,890,000 lb (1,310,882 kg) of ordnance on Communist Viet Cong targets during the first nine weeks of flight operations. Flight evaluation of the F-5 by USAFs Tactical Air Command actually began during Project Sparrowhawk at Elgin AFB, Florida, USA, between April 15 and July 15, 1965. Before the evaluation had been completed, Defense Department gave its approval for Project "Skoshi Tiger" in Vietnam. First combat sorties were flown 4 hrs. after arrival at Bien Hoa.... One aircraft was lost December, 16.


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The following text from Aviation Week is not unique to the aircraft pictured: 06/05/1961. Northrop still hopes to find a market for its N-156 lightweight supersonic development of the T-38 trainer as an interceptor and fighter-bomber, particularly in small countries with limited military budgets. In negotiations with USAF, Northrop offered a firm fixed price of $450,000 based on a minimum order of 650 aircraft. 09/02/1963. First production version of the Northrop F-5A fighter is fitted with seven external stores stations.... Previous aircraft, carrying identification numbers FA-987 (pictured above) and FA-988 were prototypes built under the N-156 program. The production airplane has now entered flight testing at Edwards AFB, California, USA. 01/17/1966. Northrop F-5A jet fighters on Project "Skoshi Tiger" flew 1,438 sorties over South Vietnam and delivered 2,890,000 lb (1,310,882 kg) of ordnance on Communist Viet Cong targets during the first nine weeks of flight operations. Flight evaluation of the F-5 by USAFs Tactical Air Command actually began during Project Sparrowhawk at Elgin AFB, Florida, USA, between April 15 and July 15, 1965. Before the evaluation had been completed, Defense Department gave its approval for Project "Skoshi Tiger" in Vietnam. First combat sorties were flown 4 hrs. after arrival at Bien Hoa.... One aircraft was lost December, 16.