[MilAir] MilAir Digest, Vol 43, Issue 6

[Clarke, Tom AIR4.0P NATOPS]

 Hi Allan,

Interesting stuff.  The F-5N bubbas probably don't recall the history behind the Hornet and why the F-5 reminds them of a hornet.

Way back when, the USAF wanted a new fighter.  G-D, teamed with LTV, proposed the YF-16 and Northrop, teamed with McDonnell-Douglas, proposed the YF-17 based on the F-5/F-20/T-38 family.  The "electric jet" (F-16)won the flyoff and the YF-17 languished although the F-20 Freedom Fighter was proposed as a FMS item, but never quite made the grade.

Later the Navy wanted a new fighter.  Northrop/McAir proposed a variant of the YF-17 which became the F-18 Hornet.  If you look at the early F-18s (A model) you can see the resemblance to the original F-5 family and hence the similar flying qualities.  The "Rhino" (F-18E/F) and the "Growler" (G) are substantially different, but the family resemblance is there.

Tom/Pax River, MD

Winchester = 303.0 (i.e. 30-30)
Pilot Common = 123.45 (sometimes known as "company freq)
Interesting conversations found here!


-------------------Message: 1----------------------------------
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:42:53 EDT
From: AllanStern at aol.com
Subject: [MilAir] Fwd: [MilRadioComms] F-5N "Bandit" pilots chatting
	away
To: milcom at mailman.qth.net
Cc: milair at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID: <d33.56a2bf34.376174cd at aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

Flight of "Bandit" F-5Ns (NAS Key West VFC-111  "Sundowners") flying to NAS 
Key West.
    Chatting away on 311.5 MHz about everything under  the Sun.
    "Miami Ctr ATCs are the worst."
    "This plane is ok except for the visibility; it  stinks."
    "A Hornet would tear this thing up."
    They reminisce about flying Hornets  (F/A-18s).
    "There's the Shuttle launch pad. Coming down last time  we saw the 
Shuttle launch. . . saw the thing come right through the  clouds."
    "You can use your radar to see the clouds; it will  show you the 
precip."
    "See the Eagle flight there, level at FL230, at 2  o'clock."
    They switch from Miami Ctr's 319.0 to Miami  Ctr's 380.3.