F-5 Freedom Fighter plastic model aircraft 1:32

KH32018 - Plastic Model Aircraft F-5 Freedom Fighter

The F-5 Freedom Fighter, designed and manufactured by Northrop in the United States from 1962, is a light and agile fighter aircraft. Its reliability, performance, and affordability made it a great success in export markets, with more than 2,700 units built, including 1,800 by Northrop and 900 under license. Unlike the trend of the two superpowers during the Cold War (USSR and USA) to build increasingly large and expensive fighters, Northrop developed a prototype of a light aircraft, the N-156, without government support in 1954. The first flight took place on July 30, 1959, and although its engines did not have afterburners, it broke the sound barrier.

The prototypes, although unsuitable for the needs of the U.S. military, continued their flight tests, including missile and rocket firing tests. The F-5E Tiger II, a modernized version of the F-5A, is equipped with an Emerson Electric AN/APQ-153 radar for early series, then the AN/APQ-159 for later series. In 1970, to improve its aircraft, Northrop developed the F-5E Tiger II with more powerful engines, a larger fuselage to increase fuel capacity, an air-to-air radar, a new gunsight, and new leading-edge flaps and slats to further improve maneuverability. The first flight of the F-5E took place on August 11, 1972, but engine reliability issues delayed its certification.

The model kit includes decorations for USAF "Aggressors," US Navy, Mexico, South Korea, Iran, Singapore, and Brazil.