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 atSaint 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.

Civilian registration on Northrop F-5E/F seems to correspond to: N = USA, followed by last Jordanian serial and TA for TacAir. Exception to this is N55O(1)TA as no known Jordanian seria
corresponds.

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.
According TAC air the aircrafts were well maintained, but their maintenance records were sketchy and forein 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.

CANADAIR CF-5D
                                      
                                            Unknown TacAir Canadair CF-5D with cockpit painted on underfuselage
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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 not yet known
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 and an Boeing F/A-18F ready for an excercise can be seen.

                                     
                                  Northrop F-5AT codex 04/N646AT and 06/N647AT next to each other. Note different camouflage                                     
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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
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F-5AT      c/n R.1311   ex Jordan 1736/75-00620, TacAir codex 02
N617TA     TACAir       reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20
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
N618TA     TACAir       reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20
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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
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
N647TA     TAC Air      reg 08-03-17, expiry 31-08-20

                                                   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
                                                  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
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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: -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
Gry/black dissimilar Air Combat colours P: -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
Desert camouflage, Jordan serial P: 20-02-17 in USA
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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
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
Desert 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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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

                                                   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 Reno

                                                     
                                      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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