Seventy years of the F-5

1. 1959MayMay

   The first F-5 is unveiled

   Prototype 59-4987 is shown to visitors from 40 countries, two months before it flies.

2. 1959JulyJul

   First F-5 flight

   The first F-5 flies, according to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

3. 1964FebruaryFeb

   F-5B first flight

   The two-seat combat trainer of the early family flies.

4. 1965

   Skoshi Tiger in Vietnam

   The 4503rd Tactical Fighter Squadron begins combat-testing the F-5A in Vietnam, running to 1967.

5. 1965FebruaryFeb

   Iran, the first export customer

   The first eleven F-5As and two F-5Bs arrive in Iran.

6. 1965DecemberDec

   Taiwan and South Korea get F-5As

   Taiwan receives its first F-5As on 9 December; South Korea also receives its first F-5s that year.

7. 1966

   Norway's F-5s arrive

   Arctic-adapted F-5As and F-5Bs replace the F-86 Sabre in Norway.

8. 1968MayMay

   First Canadair F-5 flies

   The first Canadian-built Freedom Fighter flies at Edwards Air Force Base on 6 May.

9. 1970

   YF-5A goes to the museum

   Prototype 59-4989 is delivered to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

10. 1970NovemberNov

    Spain's F-5s reach Talavera

    The first F-5s arrive at the jet school on 12 November; they are still training pilots there.

11. 1972AugustAug

    F-5E Tiger II first flight

    A larger wing, J85-21 engines and radar begin the Tiger II chapter.

12. 1974JanuaryJan

    Iran gets the first Tiger IIs

    Iran is first in line for the new Tiger II; the first arrivals are 28 two-seat F-5Fs.

13. 1974SeptemberSep

    F-5F first flight

    The two-seat Tiger II flies. Taiwan rolls out its first locally built F-5E the same year.

14. 1975MarchMar

    Brazil's first Tigers

    The first three F-5Es arrive in Brazil.

15. 1976JulyJul

    Chile's Tigers land

    The first four F-5Es of Peace Llama land at Cerro Moreno on 25 July.

16. 1978AugustAug

    First Swiss-built F-5E

    J-3014 is rolled out at Emmen, Switzerland.

17. 1982

    Korea builds the Jegongho

    Korean Air begins licence production of the KF-5E/F, running to 1986.

18. 1986

    A movie villain

    Navy Fighter Weapons School F-5s play the fictional "MiG-28" in Top Gun. Taiwan's Peace Tiger production line closes in December.

19. 1992NovemberNov

    The Turkish Stars are born

    Turkey's display team is set up on 7 November with NF-5s.

20. 1995

    Patrouille Suisse goes Tiger

    Switzerland's display team switches from the Hunter to the F-5E.

21. 2005SeptemberSep

    First F-5EM

    Brazil receives its first upgraded F-5EM from Embraer.

22. 2007NovemberNov

    Swiss jets cross the Atlantic

    J-3025, the last of the first batch, flies to the U.S. Navy in a C-130 to become F-5N 761550. Norway retires its last F-5s the same year.

23. 2008NovemberNov

    The FrankenTiger flies

    The first Navy two-seater built from an old F-5F nose and tail and an ex-Swiss center section makes its first flight.

24. 2009AprilApr

    Last F-5N delivered

    The final F-5N of the 44-aircraft Swiss buy reaches the Navy.

25. 2015SeptemberSep

    Singapore retires its Tigers

    144 Squadron, the last F-5 squadron, disbands after 36 years of Singapore F-5 flying.

26. 2020OctoberOct

    Brazil's upgrade complete

    The last upgraded jet, two-seater FAB 4810, is handed over. The U.S. Navy also buys 22 more Swiss Tigers.

27. 2025JulyJul

    Taiwan says goodbye

    Taiwan retires its last F-5s with a five-ship flyby at Hualien.

28. 2025DecemberDec

    Spain orders the Hürjet

    A contract for 30 Hürjets sets the date for the end of Spain's F-5s.

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