Private F-5 first Flight following 8-Year Restoration
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2024
- Episode 155 guest "Bones" flies the first #flight on his digi-camo CF-5D following an 8-year total restoration. Every screw, nut, and part of this civilian #fighterjet was either re-plated, refinished, restored, and/or rebuilt by the amazing team at the Circle Air Group FBO on Gillespie Field (KSEE) in El Cajon, Calif.
As a licensed pilot who no longer flies I can only imagine how exhilarating a flight in that aircraft must be. Nimble--great rate of climb and good lines.
Sono T38
You felt that T-O, didn't you ;)
I've always wanted to fly one of these aircraft since I was 11 years old in 1971. They are one of the most beautiful aircraft.
My dad taught Block 5 jet engine mechanics at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls TX and would occasionally set me in one of these while he readied for his next class.
"Wow! Mig-28s! No one's been this close before!"
The F-5 is such a beatiuful, beautiful bird!
Indeed it is, and with that skin is even more beautiful.
Neat restoration...I first flew the F-5E in 1972..then flew the F5-F ( two seat E) in 1973...fifty plus years and they still are flying
You had an amazing life most only dream of .
I fly out of Gillespie regularly, and I was amazed at how low their glide slope was for 27R, then they topped it with a touchdown on tip of the extended threshold and managed to vacate the runway on taxiway Charlie. Incredible flying. F-5’s in and out of Gillespie, that’s stretching the margins!
Why is it set so low?
You guys are so incredibly blessed. If I ever got to ride in a current/former fighter jet it would be a lifelong dream. I'd be in tears the entire time.
Canadian surplus aircraft are always in great demand because they were looked after so well
Canada has one of only a few flyable Lancaster bombers on the planet. Based at CYHM in Hamilton Ontario and it always looks like it's never seen a day of action in it's life.
Even our A-block Hornets are in pretty decent condition considering they're almost near the end of their service life and they have seen a lot of action in multiple theatres of warfare.
Thanks Brad, I have worked on both the airframe and engine on this great bird. I truly loved my work on them😊
The F-5 is one of those planes that really looks first just sitting on the line LOL. Love the sound of the J85...even inside the cockpit, they sound good!
For a time they were used as adversary aircraft at Top Gun School. They gave the F-15s and F-16s fits--often achieving a 2 to 1 kill advantage. They are much more nimble than the "F" jets and until 'stand off" missiles they were embarrassing the supposedly superior jets. This is a fighter we should still have i our inventory.
@@robertwatson818 I was one of the F-5 mechanics at VFC-13 in Fallon for 9 years. We were the squadron you are thinking of. At one time, we had 14 single seat F-5N's that we got from the Swiss and one two seat F-5F. They were such a good aircraft; simple, reliable and easy to work on. All our F-5's are gone and were replaced by 40 F-16A, B, C and D aircraft. For now, VFC-13's maintenance department is closed down while those of us that decided to transition are being retrained.
The F-5 is one of my all time favorite aircraft I like how small and nimble they are and ease of maintenance. They were severely underrated aircraft of their time
Here in Brazil we still flying them in a the last and more modern F5 model. F5EM and FM modernized by embraer.
They are not underrated in the least. Nobody badmouths the F5.
Same! Flown an old F-5 simulator, actually. True cockpit, instrument only though. Still interesting.
F-5 tiger🦈
that tail fin !
such a stable & maneuverable jet !
thank you for sharing this 👍👊
🙃 i was thinkin'bout that f-20🦈
@@sylencecured77 look's more like a t38 tbh
@@erik33107 Correct. The *CF-5D* Freedom Fighter is the Canadian built version of the _Northrup F-5B Freedom Fighter,_ whose two-seat version uses the Northrup T-38A *Talon* airframe with slightly more powerful engines, and wingtip pylon provisioning for tip tanks or alternatively, AIM-9 launch rails. Fun fact: The single seat *F-5A* is slightly _longer_ (47' 2") than the dual seat *F-5B* / *CF-5D* (46' 4") trainers given that the dual seat B/D models use the T-38 airframe as noted above.
The F-5A, F-5B, xF-5A, xF-5D *Freedom Fighters* are the predecessors of the larger and more popular F-5E, F-5F *_Tiger II_*
@@oubrioko awesome share!
The CF-5D certainly looks like a T-38, but then the Canucks essentially configured them as advanced trainers like our T-38s. The F-5 has always been a sweet airframe, reliable and efficient even with the lower powered J85s. The digital camouflage on the chase plane is cool.
T38's donhave Wingtip launchers. But the Nose sure does look like a T38
F20 tigershark was a beauty, too !!!
The wing gives it away. a racked leading edge to the wing where it meets the fuselage on front edge. The T-38 has a smaller but more prominent "C" cupped air intake. Plus the F-5's have a beefier body and slightly less of a coke bottle shape to the fuselage.
I'm guessing that it's a f5 with a t38 nose cone and minus the radar. I don't know if you are allowed to have radar as a civilian.
What a fantastic restoration project of this historic aircraft. Pure joy to see it flying again! Thank you!
Great footage.... imagine sitting in your backyard and looking up to see these two coming in for a landing!
Oh my god I live right behind the airport and literally saw you guys take off last week! I heard the engines and ran outside because I’ve never seen anything like that take off from Gillespie. I thought they were t38s lol.
Negative, MiG-28s lol
@@mk6315 🤣
@@mk6315 no one's seen em up this close before mav
😂😂😂😂😂😂
@@mk6315😂 😂😂😂😂 and the other planes is a me 262
AWESOME paint job!! Former F-5E,N,F Plane Captain!!
💪🇺🇸
The glide on the landing impressed me the most. So flat and smooth looking always such an impressive airframe. Thanks guys what a treat and great to see how the resto turned out.
17:90 they went right over my house,what a sight and sound !!! Well Done DEE and his amazing team!
thanks! Jet Noise - sound of freedom baby.
For every iconic shot of a test article being chased by a t-38, it's kind of cool seeing one as the article itself. Bravo!
That digital camo scheme is surprisingly effective. I'd hate to be trying to spot that in the weeds . Awesome video too. Thank you. 😊
Holy crap! That was you guys?!?! I damn near caused multiple accidents staring at those beautiful birds flying around Santee
🤣
Same here!
Very Nice, Have been privileged to be around a couple of restorations on birds like this when I was younger, WELL DONE!
Thanks for sharing! And thanks for keeping it real! No kooky music.
One of my favorite planes. Thank You for keeping the dream alive.
F20 tigershark was sexy, too ! another relative of the F5/T38
Congratulations to all involved and major Kudos - this must have been a fabulous moment to witness - what a labor of love ! Wow, wOw, woW !!!
awesome! I always wondered why all those F-5/T-38 parts were sitting there on Kenny Street, now I know! Great job CAG! F-5 Is "the real" last gunfighter!
WRONG. That title belongs to the Tomcat..as the "REAL LAST Gunfighter"
@@ghostrider1827 Wrong, that title was coined by pilots of the F-8 Crusader. The F-14 came along after they reintroduced building fighters with a cannon after the brass realized leaving it off the F-4 was ridiculous.
@@johnhickman106 I KNOW when it was coined. And then came... THE TOMCAT. The last of the real analog fighters ... everything after is FBW.
@@ghostrider1827 GOOD FOR YOU. The name Last Gunfighter has nothing to do with analog though so keep going down this ridiculous path. So you have a soft spot for the F-14. The F-15 was right there with it as an analog fighter, genius. Since the F-15 first flew two years after the Tomcat’s first flight, that would make it, the last one based on your logic.
@@ghostrider1827 Nothing else from "Mr. I KNOW"?
The F-5 has some of the cleanest lines in my humble opinion. Beautiful aircraft.
Cool stuff Jello…I’m impressed someone held a video camera up for the whole flight 💪🏻😂
I'm already Over the hill but I'll tell you what I feel like a kid again watching this video way to go guys this is awesome
I remember an airshow in Canada in the early 1980s where a 4 ship flight of CF5s snuck in from behind the crowd to start the show. with a surprise. What an awesome sound.
Nice landing in the displaced threshold!
SEE seems to be growing by leaps and bounds . As a Navy PH (and later AC), I flew out of Gillespie Field from 1977 to 2003 - first with an Aeronca Champ, and later with a Cessna 120. Life was great in nineteen seventy eight.
Lots of your commenters have a pretty narrow world view. We are very proud of our CF 5's and CF86's. Both built within 50 miles of the US border and 5 miles from my house.... but flying under the radar figuratively speaking LOL. Thanks for posting!
Beautiful video!
totally agree 👍👊
😎 Congrats on this restoration, and thanks for sharing! My last training flight in the T-38 was a night solo 26 years ago - loved that jet, especially when flying by myself. 🤘 That’s a short runway… Please post more of this - Fly Safe! 👍🫡
5,342 ft! My home airport has a 12,500ft and a 10,000 ft runway! I like to remind people that pretty much anywhere you go is going to be considered "short field" when you leave HSV.
“Black Widows”, Willy AFB, AZ…..79-82. Thanks guys/gals for bringing back such great memories!! Great awesome bird to fly…Cheers
A supersonic 978 mph (Mach 1.3) 2 seater civilian aircraft = priceless.
That paint job is beautiful!
Thank you for sharing, amazing to see the F-5 up n close. We'd love to see more, especially some including the instruments.
Lovely to witness and hear how fast the chute slows her down.
Very cool video. Rejoins and formation flying were expertly done. As an old USAF pilot, brings back memories of formation flying in T-38s.
1950s technology! When I worked at Naval Air Station Fallon Nevada, they used the F-5s as bogeys for air-to-air combat training against F-18s.
I thought it was a cool plane in 1991 when I first saw it from an Air Traffic Control Tower on the ground, and it's a cool plane today!
I believe that is the first twin seat F-5 I have ever seen. I have always seen just the single seat F-5s. The only twin seat jets I remember seeing during my time in the USAF were the T-38s, which are basically the same jet without the armament.
T38 also has lower thrust from the engines
I worked on B and F models at Willie for 8 years in the AF and for NWASI then Yuma for a few months. Those -13 Motors are DOGS compared to the-21s on the Es. I got 2 rides at Willie once in a B then in an F model we flew to Miramar and I flew without a G Suit when we pitched out to land those 5 Gs I REALLY felt on my legs! It was a BLAST and the other F model Ground aborted because of High EGT but we STILL took off! The Capt I flew with eventually became a General at Langley " SUEDE" Dylewski ,,,,, AWESOME guy!
F5 and T38 are totally different airplanes that just look similar.
@@sanfranciscobay The *F-5B* uses the T-38 fuselage, the _F-5A_ does not. The original F-5 Freedom Fighter wings, engines and avionics are indeed different from the T-38
@@oubrioko From what I remember, the 2 airplanes look similar/almost identical but there are no exterior panels and interior frame parts that are interchangeable. Meaning they are 2 completely different airplanes.
Sweet! Memory from RAF Alconbury days F-5/J85-21 Aggressor days. Thanks!!
Wow…haven’t heard that name since the late eighties….worked the microwave links at the end of the runway area…used watch the U2’s land with the chase cars….what site!!!
Best assignment I ever had overseas! 1979-1982
I did some work in the hangar where Circle Air was working on these. CAG did do a great job on them. It was cool to see some of the restoration process from September when first there to February on my second trip. These are ex-Canadian T-38s or at least that is what the data plate said. They mixed Garmin displays with some of the original Avionics. Really sweet.
CF-5, if I remember correctly, but that profile sure looks like a T-38 to me.
@@FighterPilotPodcast IIRC, Canadair did a few mods to the overall design. Officially, it's known as the CF-116. A models were single seat, D models were trainers. They used to be used as the lead-in trainers for the CF-188.
Canada has never operated T-38 actually. Their CF-5D is F-5B, which is basically armed T-38 with wingtip rail/tank. There's no T-38 with wingtip rail or tank, that's the easiest way to tell T-38 and F-5B apart.
Absolutely love this jet!
What a beautiful day, too!
San Diego 😉
The livery is awesome, as well!
Quite close to 100K, Great footage as always!
Yeah, good luck trying to detect leaks by a fly under, lol. That camo pattern is damn confusing. Lol. Great job to all who brought these back to life, we’re forever grateful.
SFC DeVos.
I just realized these had leading edge adjustable camber! There’s hardly any rigid wing surface to begin with! Incredible design for being made in the 60’s. I’m a retired Infantryman but my father is out of Redding and had a few old L-29’s he had me turn wrenches on in the late 90’s which he sold and bought a Long EZ, the one Burt Rutan owned and used as his chase plane.
"MIG 28s! Nobodies been this close before!"
Since the F-14 was retired in 2006 they have been entering our airspace at will.
Nobody can stop them.
Absolutely fantastic video ! Thank you for sharing it..
Great shot of landing. Yall are doing it right.
now that is - just another day in paradise ..nice flight video.
I used to fly out of KMYF and land at KSEE regularly. Would absolutely love the chance to fly a fighter someday! Amazing job!
I flew a P-40 into Gillespie back in 2021 for a buyer that bought it from Courtesy Aircraft in KRFD
Beautiful aircraft!
One of the most beautiful aircrafts ever...
Dang, that latest DCS update is spot on.
Is it? Wouldn't know. ...but what does that have to do with this?
It's funny how many people are just learning now that there were two-seat F-5s and assume all the two seaters are T-38s. Meanwhile both dual F-5s and T-38s have both been around since the 60s.
So true.
Aahhhhh....the lovely process of turning Jet-A into a feast of sight, sound and smell!!
. . . Jet A in the morning - smells like victory. . .
Thanks for taking me along for the ride, I do wish you would have looked out over the wings at the scenery at take off and climb though, it’s unnatural to stare at one obscure obstructed corner of the forward cockpit during this most exciting phase of flight - unless specifically focusing on instruments it boggles the mind that someone not PIC would not look out during takeoff.
Will do better next time.
The best looking aircraft ever made
OUTSTANDING!!
I recognize this specific f5 this one and 2 or 3 other f5s with that tail art that is checkered flys into the alpine Wyoming airpark for the 4th of July seriously one of the reasons why I love going up to Wyoming for the 4th
Thank you for your sharing this beautiful footage 👌🙏
You're welcome!
The T-38/F-5 is one aircraft that just does NOT look like it is as old a design as it is. First built in 1952, it looks like it could be one of today's designs. And if there is a twin engined supersonic jet that even comes close to being affordable to operate and maintain for a mere mortal man, this is probably it.
Honestly, the best civilian jet to have. 2 seater! Cheap! Light! Fast! Agile! Perfect!
Cheap??
@@jyellowhammer "Relatively" 😂😂
Cheap? Fuel burn would bankrupt most aircraft owner.
Awesome
Been A Fan Of The F5 And T38 Ever Since I Watched Area 88.
I Have Several 1/72 Scale Model Kits Of The F5+T38 Now.
And I’Ve Grown To Like The 2Seat Versions Of The F5.
Ahhh, SEE. I know that pattern very well! Got my PPL at Golden State there back in 2014. I miss the heck outta San Diego.
Interesting how he landed short of the runway on the displaced threshold which is not authorized for landings.
The chase plane did too. Some exception to the FAA rules that I'm not aware of?
@@matthewmcgee No. No exceptions unless it is an emergency.
The 12-yr old boy still inside of me is about to explode. This would be a dream come true. So light and powerful. The velocitization felt after the flight must be near euphoric. I'd feel like Peter Parker facing the bully in the hallway after stepping out of this, the whole world in slow motion.
First hand report: The F-5E Is a magnificet fighter. In particular the unique F-5Es ship sets perfectly assembled for the Swiss Air Force at F+W flying factory in Switzerland. They have a specially designed Northrop wing upgrade that could accept a higher wing load (1.5 /gs) that all the other F-5E and F-5Fs. They were so well assembled and maintained by Swiss technicians and engineers that many were sold back to the U.S. as Navy as Aggressor Aircraft for use at the USN Fallon Top Gun school. They were also used in the movie Top Gun. Many are still flight worthy at NASA. Switzerland replaced the F-5s with the Northrop designed F-18E/F platforms. To this day if two F-5s with Snakes get on you 6 via AWACKs without lighting you up you're dead.
Hi, what is AWACKS ? And with lighting up you turn the radar on ?
F-5s are the coolest planes ever. Wish I owned one.
Beautiful aircraft..
With you!!
This was like watching a vintage car race never leaves second gear
Looks more like AT 38B. F5s look different. As areo repair veteran, absolutely love this video.
Looks can be deceiving.
It does look very much like a mix of t-38 and f-5. I see parts from both jets.
Canada at one point had over 100 CF-5s in storage. Couldn't give them away. I think a lot of the CF-5Ds were actually upgraded to be lead-in trainers for the CF-18 in the early 80s. Would explain the lack of wingtip tanks and rails in place of.
I worked E,F and Bs at Williams Afb and we tried that removing Tip Tanks and weapons put on missile rails instead but they were still DOGS with those T-38 motors!!-13s compared to -21s on the Es and Fs!
I was the last Sqn Ops O when we retired the upgraded jets. Flew mostly with tip tanks and only rails with centerline tank for air to air trg. The upgrade package was awesome. Shame we had to retire them so early but politics dictated otherwise.
Thanks for the ride!!!!
😎
That digital camo is killer!
Some aircraft just look right-and that's one of them!
😍
Never flew the F-5 but both the A-4 and F-4, in Vietnam. It's a beautiful paint job. Not too many privates remaining. I see a few at Catalina Island occasionally.
Whoa. That would be amazing.
Great !!! thanks !!! 😃🤩👋👍👍👍👍
Good stuff! I love it! Thank you!
Killer Paint job🙂
Some commenters disagree but I’m with you.
Awesome stuff... must have cost a small fortune... but to be able to have a private military jet... priceless
Just took a little sightseeing trip out of this airport!
Landing @ 150+ has got to be a rush.
This brings back a flood of memories, having been a crew chief for 21 years. Worked on these at Willy in the early 80s. Could still put on a boat tail in my sleep.
Was CC at Columbus mid 80's.
@@trunkmonkey9417 tweets or 38s?
@@williammortensen1889 White rockets, (Line Chief/Expediter) then Job Control.
@@trunkmonkey9417 did you retire?
@@williammortensen1889 Yes. Dec. 92
Any particular reason lead touched down short of the displaced threshold at 20:25?
this is a restored F-5 as far i understand from the description for this particular video
idk
i did note that landing gear was down prevalent throughout flight _ no wingman left behind - landing gear is up and smooth goes _ feels like just looking at the exterior of this particular f-5 with a gentle flight making sure that if anything malfunctions, the situation can be handled carefully and correctly
I noticed that too... definitely... not legal. Haha
Interesting new livery on the MiG-28s :D !
Jokes aside, nice to see them fly :)
Awesome. Reminds me of UPT at Columbus AFB, MS. Nice planes and flying 👍
Except you probably flew the T-38. While this looks similar, it's actually a Canadian-built CF-5D.
@@FighterPilotPodcast True. Looks like what I remember from T-38's, but I'm sure these had more power.
one incredible job getting her back in the air, but that paint job could give a guy a headache just staring at it lol
I think that's the point!
Wow!!
I'm know we're looking at experienced people here but that landing was unexpected. It looked like a STOL arrival!
Short runway!
The chase plane could sure use a bit of dusting and repainting in its cockpit, sure enough.
That looks like a T-38 with F-5 Wings to me... ;-) - over 1000 Hours of T-38 Time here (A, C, AT) - did not know the Canadians had a hotter Smurf - this thing must turn way better than a T-38 with those slats - most my time ist in IFF - so lots of Dogfighting experience
Good eye. The two-seat F-5B / CF-5D uses the T-38 fuselage and the _Freedom Fighter_ and _Talon_ each have the same 25' 3" wingspan, but Freedom Fighters have small leading edge extensions, leading edge flaps, and wingtip provisioning pylons for optional tip tanks or AIM-9 rails. The F-5A, F-5B, xF-5A, xF-5D _Freedom Fighter_ also have slightly more powerful 4080 lb thrust engines, versus the 3850 lb thrust engines of the T-38A
@@oubrioko J85-15 engines in the CF-5 actually 4,800 lbs thrust each
@@deeconger2641 Ah, okay. The original Hawthorne-built models were fitted with a pair of *J85-GE-13* rated at 4080 lb apiece
4:59
The speed that which the gear unfolds almost looks unreal.
Man, this is so cool
where I soloed long ago nice video thankyou!