Northrop F-5K

[Spinners 15,986]

Northrop Scorpion F.1A - No.5 Squadron, RAF Strike Command, 1982

Skin Credit: 'ravenclaw_007'

[+daddyairplanes 10,232]

curious, whats the reasoning behind the name Scorpion?

[Spinners 15,986]

^

1. I can't see the RAF using a two-word name like 'Freedom Fighter'.

2. The 'Tiger' name had not yet been allocated to the later F-5E.

3. It's an ex-Northrop name.

4. I didn't fancy 'Fang'.

[fallenphoenix1986 603]

Could almost see it replacing the Hunter assuming the Jaguar never arrived. 

[Spinners 15,986]

5 minutes ago, fallenphoenix1986 said:

Could almost see it replacing the Hunter assuming the Jaguar never arrived. 

That was exactly my thoughts. Incoming Labour Government in 1964 going for the lowest cost non-British solution whilst still buying something 'supersonic'.

[Derk 265]

The CF-5A or the NF5A wóuld have been a far better buy......

Edited December 27, 2018 by Derk
Typo

[Spinners 15,986]

If it was my money in 1964 I would buy the Draken.

[fallenphoenix1986 603]

If we're buying off the shelf (more or less) then I think I'd have had the Mirage III/V with an Avon up the back end...