American postwar aircraft

QUICK LINKS

Northrop F-20 (F-5G) Tigershark

F-20 Tigershark

Northrop developed the F-20 "Tigershark" as an improved version of the F-5E intended for foreign military sales (FMS). The aircraft first flew on 30 August 1982 and compiled an impressive performance, reliability and weapons delivery record. During its flight test program, the F-20 fired the AIM-7 "Sparrow" and AIM-9 "Sidewinder" air-to-air missiles, AGM-65 "Maverick" air-to-ground missile, 2.75" folding fin aerial rockets (FFAR), dropped MK82 bombs, and fired rounds from a 30mm gun pod in addition to the two internal M-39 20mm cannon.

The F-20 was never considered for USAF service and the US Navy decided to buy F-16s for its aggressor aircraft program. These two facts essentially doomed the F-20 FMS program. Although the test program demonstrated the potential of the F-20, countries tended to buy the F-16, in part, because it was used by the USAF and USN (and the F-20 was not).

General characteristics
Power plant	One General Electric F-404-GE-100 afterburning turbofan
Thrust with afterburner	17,000 lb		75.62 kN
Max. speed	1,557 mph (Mach 2,1)		2,506 km/h
Ceiling	55,000 ft		16,765 m
Initial climb rate	50,300 ft/min		15,331 m/min
Max. range	1,715 miles		2,760 km
Combat radius	345 mil		555 km
Fuel capacity	internal tanks	677 US gal.	2,563 lt
Fuel capacity	with ext. tanks	1,502 US gal.	5,686 lt
Wingspan	28 ft		8.53 m
Length	46 ft 6 in		14.17 m
Height	13 ft 10 in		4.11 m
Wingarea	186 sq. ft		17.28 sq. m
Weight	empty	11,220 lb	5,090 kg
	combat	15,060 lb	6,831 kg
	max. takeoff	26,290 lb	11,925 kg
Armament	Two20mm cannons in nose, two AIM-9 Sidewinder guided missiles on wingtips, under wings up to 8,000 lb (3630 kg) weapons or external tanks.

Jirka Wagner

Comment this page now or read other comments!

Please let us know if you find any mistake or problem. If you would like to help me or if you have pictures or anything interesting for these pages, write me.
You can also use our discussion forum.

Last updated 01.10.2008