Northrop F-5F Tiger II

USN VFC-111 Sun Downers, Red 100 Franken Tiger, NAS Key West, FL, 2023

Hobby Master 1:72  HA3382

VFC-111, also known as the "Sun Downers," is a U.S. Navy Reserve fighter squadron that operates the F-5N Tiger II. The squadron is based at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, and plays a crucial role in adversary training, simulating enemy aircraft in air combat training exercises. The F-5N Tiger II is a lightweight, highly maneuverable aircraft, ideal for this purpose. VFC-111's mission is to provide realistic air combat training to enhance the combat readiness of Navy and Marine Corps aviators. Like other "Agressor Squadrons", VFC-111 aircraft are often painted in color schemes that are representative of foreign air forces that currently pose a potential threat to US interests.

VFC-111 operates 18 Northrop F-5N/F Tiger IIs. 17 of these are single-seater F-5Ns and the last is a twin-seater F-5F "FrankenTiger", the product of grafting the older front-half fuselage of an F-5F into the back-half fuselage of a newer low-hours F-5E acquired from the Swiss Air Force. A total of three "FrankenTigers" were made.

Northrop F-5F Tiger II

Designed in part to meet the US Navy's demand for a low-cost, low-maintenance fighter to operate from escort carriers, the F-5 first flew on July 30, 1959. Development of the F-5 continued even after the withdrawal of naval escort carriers, and the aircraft eventually evolved into the light supersonic “Freedom Fighter”, serving US allies during the Cold War and as a supersonic trainer in the USA. The second-generation F-5 (“Tiger II”) also served US allies, but because it was small and maneuverable like a MiG, it was also used by the US military as a trainer and “aggressor”, acting as the opposing force during military wargames.

Hobby Master "1:72 Air Power Series" diecast airplanes feature:

• Molded metal construction with plastic components.
• Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
• Inscriptions and posters printed with a stamp that do not fade or fall off like decals.
• opening of awnings, revealing detailed within the cockpit.
• Extended / retracted interchangeable landing gear.
• Display stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
• Authentic detachable artillery cargoes complete with placards.