USAF F-5 Aggressors Part 3

[Old Viper Tester]

The last of my images from the 64^th Fighter Weapons Squadron at Nellis...

 

S/n 74-1558, November 1980. Old Lizard scheme.

 

'558 again, April 1981. New Lizard scheme.

 

74-1564, April 1981. Flogger scheme

 

74-1564, May 1981. Flogger scheme with a little touching up of the tail serial number to indicate the 64^th FWS.

 

74-1564, June 1983. Flogger scheme, with a darker tan?

 

74-1567, February 1981. Snake scheme.

 

'567 again, February 1984. New Lizard pattern with a definitely darker tan.

 

74-1568, March 1981. Snake scheme.

 

83-0074 February 1984. Looks like I told a lie to Boman in Part 1 of this series. I was sure I hadn't seen a family model on the line until 1988, yet here they are in 1984. '074 wearing the Flogger scheme.

 

83-0072, February 1984. Sand scheme

 

83-0073, February 1984. I haven't been able to identify the camo scheme.

 

That's it for the 64^th. I don't seem to have as many for the 65^th, probably misfiled someplace.

 

Thanks for looking,

Sven

[Jens]

Awesome! Thanks a lot for sharing!

 

Jens

[Boman]

Thank you for new excellent pic's of the F-5F's Sven  

[hacker]

 

Hope that new 1/32 F-5E also comes as an F so l can do the first one. Like the second one too. Was there not a SEA scheme in Vietnam with USAF markings?

 

hacker

[Boman]

Only F-5A and B's, although the USAF F-5A's were redesignated F-5C's due to the refueling probe attached. All handed to the South Vietnameese AF after test period.  

[Old Viper Tester]

3 hours ago, hacker said:

Was there not a SEA scheme in Vietnam with USAF markings?

Baugher lists about 50 F-5Es as having been delivered to South Vietnam, but not operated by the USAF as the US had already withdrawn. More than half are listed as captured and either put into service with the VAF or put on display in the North. Others were returned to the US - flown to Thailand by escaping South Vietnamese pilots? Most were in the 73-08xx range.

 

http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1973.html

 

In fact, at least two of the Nellis jets are listed as having been delivered and then finding there way back to the USAF. There is one F-5E in Vietnamese markings in Poland at Krakow. I think the Czechs had one as well.

 

Sven

 

 

Edited March 15, 2018 by Old Viper Tester
added data

[Boman]

The VietNam war reference is a derailment of the thread in my opinion. But at the same time, we must remember that many MiG-23's were colored similar to the SEA scheme, hence this scheme correctly replicates the opponents around the world. Both Soviet and DDR Mig-21's and MiG-23 flew in this scheme. 

[F-32]

Cracking shots

[exdraken]

Very nice and interesting photos!

The last looks very much like the Thai Airforce scheme to me!

[Red Dot]

is that a travel pod on the first photo Sven? I'm going by the large hinge line at the bottom of the pod

 

Andy

[Old Viper Tester]

23 hours ago, Red Dot said:

is that a travel pod on the first photo Sven?

Thats actually the standard centerline tank. The "hinge" is a construction flange similar to those found on F-4 wing tanks. It adds some structural integrity to the tank, preventing it from collapsing if there is a valve failure.

 

I've seen an A-7D wing tank collapse as the aircraft descended after a valve failed at altitude. It actually flattened and the forward section folded over the top of the wing such that the leading edge flaps couldn't drop.

[Red Dot]

On 23 March 2018 at 9:27 PM, Old Viper Tester said:

Thats actually the standard centerline tank. The "hinge" is a construction flange similar to those found on F-4 wing tanks. It adds some structural integrity to the tank, preventing it from collapsing if there is a valve failure.

 

I've seen an A-7D wing tank collapse as the aircraft descended after a valve failed at altitude. It actually flattened and the forward section folded over the top of the wing such that the leading edge flaps couldn't drop.

Now that is an interesting tale and would make a great model too

 

andy