TACTICAL AIR SUPPORT Inc. (TacAir)
CoA = Certificate of Airworthiness
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Tac
Air, US company based at Reno-Stead airport, provides air support
as an Adversary platform for the US Navy and Air Force. Among several aircraft types (Embraer EMB-312 Tucano
and SIAI- Marchetti SF-260TP) has operated one Northrop/Canadair NF-5B and four former Canadian CF-5D two seaters see above for registration details).
The company is competing for USAF/US Navy wontracts with Draken International and Textron Airborne Solutions
Tactical Air Defense Services announced in September 2010 that it had
acquired 6 Canadian CF-5 plus 45 General Electric J-85-15 engines from
the Canadian Minister of Public Works
and Goverment Services; it offered the aircrafts to governments at an
hourly rate of USD 7'500, aiming to operate each aircraft for a minimum
of 200 hours a year.
The Canadairs were also used for refresher training of four Botswana
Air Force pilots beginning September 2013.Four pilots and instructors
received refresher training by TAC starting
on 23-09-13 at Reno airport
on Canadair NF-5B,serial N8910, for a 5 weeks course. Each pilot received 26 hours of
ground school and completednine training flights covering bombs and
weapons delivery, tactical information, basic fighter manoeuvering and
fighter squadron management. The second course started end of February
2014.
In addition to the Freedom Fighter the company uses EMB-312 Tucano and SIAI SF-260.
In
2017 TacAir was allowed to operate Northrop F-5Es; it bought 16 single
and 5 double-seaters (originally 17 and 4),former Jordanian ones;
another source mentions 16 single- and
6 double-seaters.
The first four were air delivered beginning February 2017 to Grumman
at Saint Augustine airport by an Atlas Air Boeing B.747F for maintenace
and modifications by Grumman. The remaining
17 are delivered via freighter ship. See below for serials. Colours of the first four half are black/white/splinter gray camouflage, the second half desert brown colours.
By October 2017 deliveries were complete and approximately half was
assembled and inspected by Grumman; they will operate from TacAir's
flight operations center in Reno, Nevada. Garmin
Company informed that their flight deck was swithed from analog to
digital displays with the Garmin G3000, claiming that the display can
talk to the Northrop F-5s mission computer and
display information from the radar. The 20mm cannons were removed and replaced by ballast
Civilian
registration on Northrop F-5E/F correspond to: N = USA,
followed by last Jordanian serial and TA for TacAir. Exception to this
is N55O(1)TA as no known Jordanian serial corresponds.
Photo: Jessie
Five Northrop F-5E (4 camouflaged, 1 metal colour) awaiting conversion
US Federal Aviation Administration was completed on 27-04-18 by
N791TA in a Phase One aircraft, frm Cecilairport (Jacksonville); By
July 2018 four had been reassembled/tested at
St.Augustine
(FL), plus several non airworthy ex Jordanian F-5E/F aircrafts.
The
company renamed their own aircrafts as F-5 Advanced Tiger (F-5AT),
modifications comprised a comprensive systems upgrade including a new
mission computer, a weapons replication software,
Radar Warner Receiver (RWR), Hands On Throttle and Stick (HOTAS) and several others. Original designation TacAir was Northrop F-5AT Codex 01-05 plus other codex not known, Northrop F-5F
Codex 21-4 plus one code not known, Northrop F-5AT codex 14 plus one code not known. First flight of an upgraded Northrop F-5AT took place in April 2019.
According
TAC air the aircrafts were well maintained, but their maintenance records
were sketchy and foreign object damage had been discovered in some of
their engines.
Officially
anounced on 01-05-19 was the awarding of a third-party adversary
training contract of a 5 years, USD125.4 millions by the US Navy Air Warfare Center Division for Forward Air
Controllers and Joint Terminal Attack Controllers training. Operation
primarely taking place at NAS Fallon. US Marines Air Station and Cherry Point, Air Ground Combat Center.
In
March 2020 three Northrop F-5AT were based for two weeks at Naval Air
Station North Island (Californa): on 29-30 May, at least two aircafts
participated to the Compuetx Composite Training
Unit pre-deployment excercise conducted for the Nimitz battlegroup.
For further information see https://gramsluftfartsblogg.blogspot.com/2020/03/test_17.html?spref=fb
By September 2020 four
Northrop F-5AT had been based at Wingsley Field to provide "red air"
support to train pilots of the USAF 173rd Wighter Wing, the only
McDonnel Douglas F-15C training Wing.
By April 2022 aircrafts of the company had completed a seven weeks
support training of US Navy/USAF Boeing F-35 out of both Moffett Field
(California) and Hill AFB (near Salt Lake City)
Officially stated in September 2022 was that the Swiss RUAG AG will in
future maintain the Nothrop F-5Es bought from the Swiss Air Force,
company that already handles the local Tigers.
An unusual activity was performed by TacAir in support of the film "Top
Gun Maverick" with the aid by computer grafics. TacAir aircrafts,
digitally disguised as Grumman F-14 as well
as Sukhoi Su-57 (?), were operated from Lake Tahoe.
CANADAIR CF-5D
Photo: Jessie
Unknown TacAir Canadair CF-5D with cockpit painted on underfuselage
One Canadair CF-5D has the TacAir Code 033, Civilian serial not known
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CF-5D c/n 2020 116820 ex Canada, TacAir codex 31
N511BZ
19-06-08 reg Aerovision Llc
03-02-09 reg Freedom Fighter Co
18-09-13
Tactical Air Support CoA, valid till 30-09-22
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CF-5D c/n 2021 116821 ex Canada, TacAir codex not yet known
N512BZ
19-06-08 reg Aerovision Llc
03-02-09 reg Freedom Fighter Co
18-09-13
Tactical Air Support CoA, valid till 30-09-22
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CF-5D c/n 2033 116833 ex Canada, TacAir codex not yet known
N15FF
03-11-07 Freedom 1 LLC Certificate of Airworthiness
13-08-20 Tactical Air Support
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CF-5D c/n 2045
116845 ex Canada, TacAir codex 33
N845PS
25-03-09 reg Corsair Enterprises Llc
P
18-09-13
Tactical Air Support CoA, 30-09-19 valid
Code 33 P: 24-08-19 Victorville
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CF-5D c/n 2046
116846 ex Canada, TacAir codex not yet known
N846PS
28-03-09 reg Corsair Enterprises Llc
P
30-09-13
Tactical Air Support CoA, 30-09-19 valid
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Mix of Canadair CF-5B and Northrop F-5FAT at Reno airport in 2021
NORTHROP F-5E modified to F-5AT
Photo: Brad Holeski/TacAir
Rick Burns, project Manager/Navy contract seen on the flightlineof NAS Fallor in 2022;
new cockpit, an Boeing F/A-18F from VFA-41 can be seen, ready for the next session.
Northrop F-5AT codex 04/N646AT and 06/N647AT next to each other. Note
different camouflage
One Northop F-5AT hsa the TacAir Code 08, Civilian serial not known
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F-5AT c/n R.1145 ex Jordan 930/74-00497, TacAir codex 09
N550TA TACAir reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20
Bown/brown desert camouflageGrey/grey/black camouflage
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F-5AT c/n R.1311 ex Jordan 1736/75-00620, TacAir codex 02 P
N617TA TACAir reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20
Grey/grey/black camouflage
Fort Worth-Alliance 29-02-20, 18-12-20 North Island (tail codex 05), 20-12-20 North Island
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F-5AT c/n R.1321 ex Jordan 75-00624, TacAir codex 05 P
N618TA TACAir reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20, -12-22 Hanckok Field
Grey/grey/black camouflage
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F-5AT c/n R.1327 ex Jordan 75-00625, TacAir codex not yet known
N619TA TACAir reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20
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F-5AT c/n R.1373 ex Jordan 77-01774, TacAir codex 04 P
N646TA TAC Air reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20
Desert camouflage P: 18-12-20 North Island, 20-05-20, 26-04-21 Fallon, 18-12-20 North Island, 02-04-22 Boise
Named
"Villain" on underfuselage tank, 26-04-21 Fallon
Photo: Jessie Roberts
Northrop F-5AT N646TA in desert camouflage in NAS North Island on 31-05-20
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F-5AT c/n
R.1369 ex Jordan 77-01777, TacAir codex 06 P
N647TA TAC Air reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20
Fallon -09-22
Grey/grey/black camouflage P
Photo: Jessie Roberts
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F-5AT c/n
R.1376 ex Jordan 78-00789 - TacAir codex 03
N648TA TACAir reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20
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F-5AT c/n
R.1381 ex Jordan 78-00794, TacAir codex not yet known
N653TA TACAir reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20
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F-5AT c/n
R.1384 ex Jordan 78-00797, TacAir codex not yet known
N656TA TACAir reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20
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F-5AT c/n R.1226 ex Jordan 75-00492, TacAir codex 15
N696TA TACAir reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20
-08-18 St Augustine
20-08-20 Reno-Stead
airport gear up landing
P
18-11-21 operational
Grey/grey/black camouflage
Photo: TacAir
Overwing view of Northrop F-5AT N696AT / 15
Splint camouflage P: -08-18 St Augustine, 18-12-20 North Island, 20-12-20 North Island, 14-03-21 Klamath Falls, 18-11-21,
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F-5AT c/n R.1110 ex Jordan 74-01459, TacAir codex 14
N697TA TACAir reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20
14 P TACAir -06-18 Mesa-Gateway, -12-22 Hancock Field
Brown/sand/brown camouflage
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F-5AT c/n
R.1378 ex Jordan 78-00791, TacAir codex 01
N791T TACAir reserved
N791TA P TACAir reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20
Codex 01 P: 31-03-18 Tulsa, -04-18, 20-05-20, 29-05-20, -21, 02-04-22 Boise
FAA certificate of Airworthiness received 25-04-18
Three grey colours
First flown: 27-04-18 Jacksonville
Test flights P: 18-09-19 Reno/Steads, 20-09-19 Reno/Steads
Grey/black dissimilar Air Combat colours P: 31-03-18 Tulsa, -04-18 Tulsa, 18-12-20 North Island, 20-12-20 North Island, 02-04-22 Boise
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F-5AT c/n
R.1383 ex Jordan 78-00796, TacAir codex not yet known
N796TA P TACAir reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20
20-02-17 del to civil in USA
Photo: Mike Henry via Jessie
Still in original Jordanian desert camouflage/serial; US registration N796TA, on 20-02-17
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F-5AT c/n R.1225 ex Jordan 75-00491, TacAir codex not yet known
N924TA TACAir reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20
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F-5AT c/n R.1241 ex Jordan 75-00493, TacAir codex 08 P
N926TA TACAir 08-03-17 registered, 31-08-20 expiry
Codex 08 P be-03-19, 29-05-20, 16-11-21, 02-04-22 Boise
Brown/brown/brown camouflage P: be-03-19, 29-05-20, 11-06-20, 14-03-21 Fort Worth, 02-04-22 Boise
Damaged in gear-up landing: Reno-Stead substantial damage 24-08-20
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F-5AT c/n R.1268 ex Jordan 75-00498 - Tacair codex not yet known
N931TA TACAir reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20
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F-5AT c/n R.1226 ex Jordan 75-00492 - TacAir codex 15
N696TA
TACAir reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20
Code 15 P
Delivered to civil in USA P: 20-02-17 Mesa
Desert camouflage, Jordan serial P: 20-02-17 in USA
Grey, light/dark blue P: ca-07-18 St Augustine, 13-11-18 St Augustine
Named
"Villain" on underfuselage tank, 26-04-21 Fallon
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Photo: TacAir
Air to air picture showing Northrop F-5AT codes 06, 02, 15 in
two-grey/white colours
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NORTHROP F-5F
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F-5F c/n 1036 ex Jordan 78-00803 - TacAir codex 22 P
N643TA TACAir 28-02-19 airworthiness issued, 08-03-17 registered
14-03-19 Austin , 06-06-19
Reno
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F-5F c/n W.1044 ex Jordan 79-01919 - TacAir codex 25
N644TA TACAir reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20
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F-5F c/n
W.1008 ex Jordan 75-00735 - TacAir codex 24
N698TA TACAir reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20
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F-5F c/n
WH.1043 ex Jordan 79-01918 - TacAir codex 21
N699TA TACAir reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20
14-03-19 Austin, 06-06-19
Rene, -12-22 Hancock Field
Northrop F-5F/AT N699TA/21 seen at NAS Fallon on 18-11-19 Photo: Darren Megowan
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F-5F c/n
WH.1042 ex Jordan 79-01917 - TacAir codex 23
N917TA TACAir reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20
Noted: P 08-07-20 St Augustine under maintenance
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