Military Nuts Warplane of the Week: The Tigershark.

• SBS1908B

  17 Aug 05, 19:02

  Since you guys wanna know more bout it, I put a hold on record-breakers.
  
  Northrop developed the F-20 Tigershark in response to a U.S. Government call for the private development of a tactical fighter specifically tailored to meet the security needs of allied and friendly nations.
  
  The first flight of the Tigershark was made August 30, 1982. The Mach 2 class F-20 Tigershark's basic single-seat configuration was formally designated the F-20A. The F-20 combined propulsion, electronics and armament technologies with improvements in reliability to sustain high sortie rates in adverse weather.
  
  The F-20 incorporated a combination of advanced technology features. The F-20 could carry more than 8,300 pounds of external armaments and fuel on five pylons. It could carry six Sidewinder missiles on air-to-air missions. For air-to-ground missions, more than 6,800 pounds of armament could be carried. Two internally mounted 20mm guns were standard equipment on the Tigershark.
  
  The avionics system features a General Electric multimode radar, Honeywell laser inertial navigation system, General Electric head-up display, Bendix digital display and control set and Teledyne Systems mission computer.
  
  The F-20 is powered by a General Electric F404 engine, with 17,000 pounds of thrust. The F404 is recognized as one of the world's most reliable advanced technology engines. It is also used to power the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps F/A-18A Hornet strike fighter.
  
  Once airborne, the F-20 pilot utilized his multimode radar, which could detect and track targets at ranges of up to 48 nautical miles "look up" and 31 nautical miles "look down." The F-20 mission computer coordinated the aircraft's weapons systems. The head-up display placed critical weapons, target and flight data at the pilot's eye level. This allowed him to fight without having to look down. Northrop designed a new panoramic canopy for the F-20 that gave the pilot a 50 percent increase in rearward visibility over previous Northrop fighters. An improved seat and headrest design combined to substantially expand over-the-shoulder visibility, which is critical in air-to-air combat.
  
  Aerodynamic features of the F-20 included an enlarged leading edge extension to the wing, which generated up to 30 percent of the lift maneuvers. The "shark-shaped" nose allowed the F-20 to maneuver at much higher angles of attack than current operational fighters. The F-20 airframe could withstand nine G's.
  
  The F-20 was reliable and easy to maintain. Based on comparisons with the average of contemporary international fighters, the F-20 consumed 53 percent less fuel, required 52 percent less maintenance manpower, had 63 percent lower operating and maintenance costs and had four times the reliability.
  
• SBS1908B

  17 Aug 05, 19:03

  Maximum Speed Mach 2 class
  Sea level rate-of-climb 52,800 feet/minute
  Combat ceiling 54,700 feet
  Takeoff distance 1,600 feet
  Takeoff Distance 4,200 feet
  Scramble order to brake release 52 seconds
  Scramble order to 29,000 feet 2.5 minutes
  Time to 40,000 feet from brake release 2.3 minutes
  Acceleration Time 0.3M to 0.9M, at 10,000 feet 28 seconds
  Sustained Turn Rate 0.8M at 15,000 feet 11.1 degrees/second
  Maximum Load Factor 9g
  Length 46 ft 6 in
  Height 13 ft 10 in
  Wing Span 26 ft 8 in
  Internal Fuel 5,050 lbs
  External Fuel 6,435 lbs
  Takeoff Weight clean 18,005 lbs
  Combat Thrust/Weight ratio 1.1
  Combat Weight 50% fuel, 2 AIM-9 missiles 15,820 lbs
  Maximum Weight 27,500 lbs
  Armament Two AIM-9 missiles
  
  Five pylons, more than 8,300 lbs external armaments
  
  
• SBS1908B

  17 Aug 05, 19:10

  http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/f-20_tigershark.jpg/[url]
  [url]http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/f-20_3view.gif]
  http://www.9sto.edu.pl/Ptaki/F-20%20Tigershark%20a.jpg
  http://photos.airliners.net/photos/0/7/4/163470.jpg
  
  ENJOY YOURSELVES!
• sbst275

  17 Aug 05, 19:13

  Single engine version of F-5
  
  Muahahah
• SBS1908B

  17 Aug 05, 19:13

  Sorry that some pics cannot work.
• fett

  18 Aug 05, 22:14

  Originally posted by sbst275:

  Single engine version of F-5
  
  Muahahah

  the joke's on you.
  
  go read up before you type anything here.
• Gedanken

  18 Aug 05, 22:27

  Damn - I used to have this great original Northrop ad from Sinagpore Aerospace 198something, which showed data about how fast the F20 could go from brake release to engaging in combat. Don't know where I've put it, or if I still even have it.
• Gedanken

  18 Aug 05, 22:48

  This is funny - while we were on the topic, I dug up my old (1983) copy of Bill Gunston's "The World's Military Aircraft". Here's what he had to say about it:
  
  

  In 1980 the Carter administration authorised a third generation (of the F-5 series), but this time Northrop had to find the money. In developing today's F-5G Tigershark the main change is a switch to the F404 engine, one of which develops 63 percent more thrust than the two engines used previously. This has had a dramatic effect on performance, and to go with it Northrop revamped the airframe with a broad 'shark nose', bigger canopy, larger tailplanes, new-technology cockpit, improved flight controls, new weapon options, and, in later Tigersharks, a General Electric G-200 pulse/doppler radar and HUD.
  
  Northrop built a mock-up with the tail number 71983 to emphasize the promise of deliveries in July 1983. The F-5G is likely to sell extremely well, offering almost the combat capability of an F-16 for less cost, and with a price Northrop expects to be one-sixth that of a Mirage 2000. For the second half of the 1980s a new wing is being designed, of composite structure and much greater area, and for the first time in any F-5, containing fuel. From the start the F-5 family has sold well because air forces all over the world knew they could handle it. Now the F-5G is interesting even major powers.