F-5
04-03-2011, 07:19 PM
#12
Moderate Moderator
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: Curator at Static Display
Posts: 5,681
Mea Culpa
Google Frankentiger, all our F's are conversions. Two seat cockpits that were bolted to low time single seat airframes.
We paid the Swiss something like $750K per copy is my understanding.
The F-16N was retired prematurely, a huge political move that requires a much bigger thread.
We paid the Swiss something like $750K per copy is my understanding.
The F-16N was retired prematurely, a huge political move that requires a much bigger thread.
I stand corrected!! I never read anything about this...news to me.
Although, since the cockpits came from older -Fs, I guess I could say they came from the factory that way....
I like the name Frankentiger. I guess Ross Perot Jr's "T-38" qualifies as a "Frankentalon." Saw it at Alliance. I was talking to the Crew Chief, who explained it is a T-38 from the wings-forward, and an F-5B from the wings aft. Has an F-5 speedbrake, gear wells, a hook (!!), and a drag chute. Intakes are stock T-38, but it puts out more power than the PMP-modified T-38.
I would guess the price from the Swiss is correct. I read, many years ago, in Aviation Week about the Navy's attempt to buy them. The Middle Eastern Countries were asking in the millions, because they knew the Navy was stuck between a rock and hard place.
