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The 'CF-5' (officially designated the 'CF-116 Freedom Fighter') was the Canadair licensed-built version of the American Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter aircraft primarily for the Canadian Forces. The CF-5 was upgraded periodically throughout its service career in Canada. The Canadian Forces retired the type in 1995, although CF-5s continued to be used by other countries into the early 21st century.
The Royal Canadian Air Force took delivery of the first CF-5s (it was almost universally referred to as the CF-5 except in official documentation) at the end of 1968. Total production by Canadair for Canadian Forces was 89 single-seat aircraft and 46 dual-seat aircraft, but many were also built for the Netherlands and Norway as well, some surplus aircraft were sold to Venezuela.

Contents

Design and development

Operational service

Variants

Operators

Specifications (CF-116)

References

External links

Related content

Design and development

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 and soon received the derisive RCAF nicknames, "Tinkertoy" or the "Supersonic Tinkertoy."^[1] Selected originally to provide a tactical support role based in Canada, the CF-5 was also committed to NATO's northern flank to act 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 (and it did perform well at air shows).
The Canadian version had several modifications to make it more suitable to operating in Canadian Forces theatres: A two-position nose gear was used, which shortened takeoff distance by almost 20%, a mid-air 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.

Operational service

Initially 434 and 433 squadrons 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 CF-104, but was transitioned to the role of a rapid reaction squadron, being ready to deploy to Europe at a moment's 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.
The training role was adopted by 419 squadron in 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 CF-18 until the aircraft was retired in 1995. All remaining airframes were put into storage at CFB Mountainview. In service use, although it had a reasonable accident rate, the CF-5 had also gained another jocular nickname, the "lawndart." Only a few examples remain available in aircraft museums, including the Air Force Heritage Park at CFB Winnipeg and the Worthington Museum at CFB Borden.

Variants

★ 'CF-5A' : Single-seat fighter version for the Canadian Armed Forces. Canadian Armed Forces designation 'CF-116A'. 89 built.

★ 'CF-5A(R)' : Single-seat reconnaissance version for the Canadian Armed Forces. Built in small numbers. Canadian Armed Forces designation 'CF-116A(R)'.

★ 'CF-5D' : Two-seat training version for the Canadian Armed Forces. Canadian Armed 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

;

★ Botswana Air Force
;

★ Royal Canadian Air Force

★
★ No. 419 Squadron RCAF

★
★ No. 433 Squadron RCAF

★
★ No. 434 Squadron RCAF
;

★ Hellenic Air Force
;

★ Netherlands Air Force
;

★ Royal Norwegian Air Force
;

★ Turkish Air Force
;

★ Venezuelan Air Force

Specifications (CF-116)

References

1. Freedom Fighet on RCAF.com


★ McIntyre, Bob. ''Canadair CF-5 (Canadian Profile: Aircraft No. 4)''. Ottawa, Ontario: Sabre Model Supplies Ltd., 1985. ISBN 0-920375-02-2.

★ Pickler, Ron and Milberry, Larry. ''Canadair: the First 50 Years''. Toronto: CANAV Books, 1995. ISBN 0-921022-07-7.

External links

★ RCAF.com: The History and Heritage of Canada's Aircraft

★ Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum: Canadair CF-5 Freedom Fighter

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