Canadair CF-5

CF-5/CF-116/NF-5 Freedom Fighter
Canadian Forces CF-5A Freedom Fighter on display at Trenton, Ontario
General information
TypeFighter-bomber
ManufacturerCanadair
StatusRetired from Canadian service in 1995, still in service with some countries
Primary usersCanadian Forces (former)
Number built240
History
Introduction date5 November 1968[citation needed]
First flight6 May 1968
Developed fromNorthrop F-5

The Canadair CF-5 (officially designated the CF-116 Freedom Fighter) is a Canadian licensed-built Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter. It is a light, supersonic, twin engine, daylight air superiority fighter primarily for the Canadian Forces (as the CF-5) and the Royal Netherlands Air Force (as the NF-5). The CF-5 was upgraded periodically throughout its service life in Canada. While Canadian Forces retired the aircraft in 1995, it continues to be used by other countries.

The CF-5 was ordered by the Royal Canadian Air Force, which became part of the Canadian Forces on 1 February 1968. The new unified force took delivery of the first CF-5s (it was almost universally referred to as the CF-5 except in official documentation[1]) at the end of 1968. Production by Canadair for the Canadian Forces was 89 single-seat aircraft, 46 dual-seat aircraft and 75 single-seat with 30 dual-seat aircraft for the Royal Netherlands Air Force, a total production of 240. Twenty surplus Canadian aircraft were sold to Venezuela.[2][3][4]

  1. ^ Canadian Armed Forces (5 March 2010). "Historical Aircraft". Archived from the original on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  2. ^ CF-5 with Venezuela
  3. ^ Aeroware (2012). "Canadair CF-116 CF-5". canadianwings.com. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  4. ^ Canadian Armed Forces (6 April 2004). "Canadair CF-5 Freedom Fighter". Archived from the original on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2016.