The RF-5A (N-156C) is the reconnaissance version of the F-5A. It was ordered in October of 1967, but did not make its first flight until May of 1968. It retained some combat capability with the additional provision of four KS-92 cameras mounted in the nose. The KS-92 camera was provided with an individual light sensor and individual light sensor and automatic exposure and had a 100-foot magazine. The cameras gave forward oblique, trimetrogon and split vertical coverage. All four cameras could be removed, reloaded and replaced within five minutes. The use of different lenses gave six basic camera configurations.
The RF-5A could be distinguished from its single- seat fighter cousin by the rather angular nose cutouts for the camera ports. The cameras were accessed via the upper surface of the nose which hinged forward. The aircraft was otherwise quite similar to the F-5A. Both cannon were retained, even when the cameras were fitted. In theory, the nose of the RF-5A could be replaced by the standard F-5A nose, but in the field this operation took too long to be practical.
The first of 89 RF-5As was delivered in the late 1960s. The first customer was the Imperial Iranian Air Force, followed by the air forces of Greece, Morocco, Norway, South Korea, South Vietnam, Thailand, and Turkey.
Serial numbers of Northrop RF-5A Freedom Fighter:
67-21219/21231 Northrop RF-5A-35-NO Freedom Fighter to Iran 67-21232/21235 cancelled contract for Northrop RF-5A Freedom Fighter 68-9097/9113 Northrop RF-5A-40-NO Freedom Fighter 9097/9099 to Turkey 9100/9113 to Norway 68-10489/10490 Northrop RF-5A-40-NO Freedom Fighter sold to Norway 69-6487/6502 Northrop RF-5A Freedom Fighter - contract cancelled 69-7137/7173 Northrop RF-5A-45-NO Freedom Fighter 7137/7147 to Turkey 7148, 7151, and 7160/7163 to South Vietnam 7154 to Thailand 7149,7150,7152,7153,7155,7156 to Turkey 7157/7159 to Thailand 7164/7173 to Greece 69-7178/7180 Northrop RF-5A Freedom Fighter - cancelled contract 70-1614/1622 Northrop RF-5A-40-NO Freedom Fighter 1614,1615 to Morocco 1616 to South Vietnam 1617-1622 to Greece 71-277/279 Northrop RF-5A-NO Freedom Fighter 277, 278 to South Korea 279 to South Vietnam 71-1029/1032 Northrop RF-5A-55-NO Freedom Fighter all to South Korea 71-1035/1038 Northrop RF-5A-NO Freedom Fighter 1035,1036 to South Korea 1037,1038 to South Vietnam
Sources:
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The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.
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Jane’s American Fighting Aircraft of the 20th Centry, Michael J.H.
Taylor, Mallard Press
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Modern Air Combat, Bill Gunston and Mike Spick, Crescent, 1983.
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United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and
Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.
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Post-World War II Fighters: 1945-1973, Marcelle Size Knaac,
Office of Air Force History, 1986.
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F-5: Warplane for the World, Robbie Shaw, Motorbooks, 1990
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The World Guide to Combat Planes, William Green, Macdonald, 1966.
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Fighters of the United States Air Force, Robert F. Dorr and
David Donald, Temple Press/Aerospace, 1990
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The World’s Great Attack Aircraft, Gallery, 1988.
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Northrop F-5/F-20, Jerry Scutts, Ian Allan Ltd, 1986.
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Northrop F-5, Jon Lake and Robert Hewson, World Airpower Journal,
Vol 25, 1996.
- e-mail from Ben Marselis
