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Private F-5 first Flight following 8-Year Restoration
Episode 155 guest "Bones" flies the first #flight on his digi-camo CF-5D following an 8-year total restoration. Every screw, nut, and part of this civilian #fighterjet was either re-plated, refinished, restored, and/or rebuilt by the amazing team at the Circle Air Group FBO on Gillespie Field (KSEE) in El Cajon, Calif.
Пікірлер: 700
"Wow! Mig-28s! No one's been this close before!" The F-5 is such a beatiuful, beautiful bird!
@gtheos80gr
8 күн бұрын
Indeed it is, and with that skin is even more beautiful.
I've always wanted to fly one of these aircraft since I was 11 years old in 1971. They are one of the most beautiful aircraft. My dad taught Block 5 jet engine mechanics at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls TX and would occasionally set me in one of these while he readied for his next class.
As a licensed pilot who no longer flies I can only imagine how exhilarating a flight in that aircraft must be. Nimble--great rate of climb and good lines.
@davideferrario8996
Жыл бұрын
Sono T38
@oriskany5966
8 ай бұрын
You felt that T-O, didn't you ;)
Neat restoration...I first flew the F-5E in 1972..then flew the F5-F ( two seat E) in 1973...fifty plus years and they still are flying
@markjamison9677
3 ай бұрын
You had an amazing life most only dream of .
I fly out of Gillespie regularly, and I was amazed at how low their glide slope was for 27R, then they topped it with a touchdown on tip of the extended threshold and managed to vacate the runway on taxiway Charlie. Incredible flying. F-5’s in and out of Gillespie, that’s stretching the margins!
@oriskany5966
8 ай бұрын
Why is it set so low?
You guys are so incredibly blessed. If I ever got to ride in a current/former fighter jet it would be a lifelong dream. I'd be in tears the entire time.
What a fantastic restoration project of this historic aircraft. Pure joy to see it flying again! Thank you!
The F-5 is one of my all time favorite aircraft I like how small and nimble they are and ease of maintenance. They were severely underrated aircraft of their time
Жыл бұрын
Here in Brazil we still flying them in a the last and more modern F5 model. F5EM and FM modernized by embraer.
@timoleary92
Жыл бұрын
They are not underrated in the least. Nobody badmouths the F5.
@oriskany5966
8 ай бұрын
Same! Flown an old F-5 simulator, actually. True cockpit, instrument only though. Still interesting.
The F-5 is one of those planes that really looks first just sitting on the line LOL. Love the sound of the J85...even inside the cockpit, they sound good!
@robertwatson818
Жыл бұрын
For a time they were used as adversary aircraft at Top Gun School. They gave the F-15s and F-16s fits--often achieving a 2 to 1 kill advantage. They are much more nimble than the "F" jets and until 'stand off" missiles they were embarrassing the supposedly superior jets. This is a fighter we should still have i our inventory.
@myvair
Жыл бұрын
@@robertwatson818 I was one of the F-5 mechanics at VFC-13 in Fallon for 9 years. We were the squadron you are thinking of. At one time, we had 14 single seat F-5N's that we got from the Swiss and one two seat F-5F. They were such a good aircraft; simple, reliable and easy to work on. All our F-5's are gone and were replaced by 40 F-16A, B, C and D aircraft. For now, VFC-13's maintenance department is closed down while those of us that decided to transition are being retrained.
The glide on the landing impressed me the most. So flat and smooth looking always such an impressive airframe. Thanks guys what a treat and great to see how the resto turned out.
Canadian surplus aircraft are always in great demand because they were looked after so well
@happypapi1903
Жыл бұрын
Canada has one of only a few flyable Lancaster bombers on the planet. Based at CYHM in Hamilton Ontario and it always looks like it's never seen a day of action in it's life. Even our A-block Hornets are in pretty decent condition considering they're almost near the end of their service life and they have seen a lot of action in multiple theatres of warfare.
@menotadog
6 ай бұрын
Thanks Brad, I have worked on both the airframe and engine on this great bird. I truly loved my work on them😊
Very Nice, Have been privileged to be around a couple of restorations on birds like this when I was younger, WELL DONE!
Congratulations to all involved and major Kudos - this must have been a fabulous moment to witness - what a labor of love ! Wow, wOw, woW !!!
Great footage.... imagine sitting in your backyard and looking up to see these two coming in for a landing!
For every iconic shot of a test article being chased by a t-38, it's kind of cool seeing one as the article itself. Bravo!
Thank you for sharing, amazing to see the F-5 up n close. We'd love to see more, especially some including the instruments. Lovely to witness and hear how fast the chute slows her down.
Oh my god I live right behind the airport and literally saw you guys take off last week! I heard the engines and ran outside because I’ve never seen anything like that take off from Gillespie. I thought they were t38s lol.
@mk6315
Жыл бұрын
Negative, MiG-28s lol
@boxlid214
Жыл бұрын
@@mk6315 🤣
@NotMe-hm2zd
Жыл бұрын
@@mk6315 no one's seen em up this close before mav
@John_Italy
Жыл бұрын
😂😂😂😂😂😂
@madbager1
8 ай бұрын
@@mk6315😂 😂😂😂😂 and the other planes is a me 262
Absolutely fantastic video ! Thank you for sharing it..
The CF-5D certainly looks like a T-38, but then the Canucks essentially configured them as advanced trainers like our T-38s. The F-5 has always been a sweet airframe, reliable and efficient even with the lower powered J85s. The digital camouflage on the chase plane is cool.
@spuds416
Жыл бұрын
T38's donhave Wingtip launchers. But the Nose sure does look like a T38
@myprivatewar
Жыл бұрын
F20 tigershark was a beauty, too !!!
@tobyallred4413
2 ай бұрын
The wing gives it away. a racked leading edge to the wing where it meets the fuselage on front edge. The T-38 has a smaller but more prominent "C" cupped air intake. Plus the F-5's have a beefier body and slightly less of a coke bottle shape to the fuselage.
@simplyexisting1125
Ай бұрын
I'm guessing that it's a f5 with a t38 nose cone and minus the radar. I don't know if you are allowed to have radar as a civilian.
That digital camo scheme is surprisingly effective. I'd hate to be trying to spot that in the weeds . Awesome video too. Thank you. 😊
17:90 they went right over my house,what a sight and sound !!! Well Done DEE and his amazing team!
@deeconger2641
Жыл бұрын
thanks! Jet Noise - sound of freedom baby.
“Black Widows”, Willy AFB, AZ…..79-82. Thanks guys/gals for bringing back such great memories!! Great awesome bird to fly…Cheers
Thanks for sharing! And thanks for keeping it real! No kooky music.
One of my favorite planes. Thank You for keeping the dream alive.
@myprivatewar
Жыл бұрын
F20 tigershark was sexy, too ! another relative of the F5/T38
F-5 tiger🦈 that tail fin ! such a stable & maneuverable jet ! thank you for sharing this 👍👊
@sylencecured77
Жыл бұрын
🙃 i was thinkin'bout that f-20🦈
@erik33107
Жыл бұрын
@@sylencecured77 look's more like a t38 tbh
@oubrioko
Жыл бұрын
@@erik33107 Correct. The *CF-5D* Freedom Fighter is the Canadian built version of the _Northrup F-5B Freedom Fighter,_ whose two-seat version uses the Northrup T-38A *Talon* airframe with slightly more powerful engines, and wingtip pylon provisioning for tip tanks or alternatively, AIM-9 launch rails. Fun fact: The single seat *F-5A* is slightly _longer_ (47' 2") than the dual seat *F-5B* / *CF-5D* (46' 4") trainers given that the dual seat B/D models use the T-38 airframe as noted above. The F-5A, F-5B, xF-5A, xF-5D *Freedom Fighters* are the predecessors of the larger and more popular F-5E, F-5F *_Tiger II_*
@sylencecured77
Жыл бұрын
@@oubrioko awesome share!
AWESOME paint job!! Former F-5E,N,F Plane Captain!!
@FighterPilotPodcast
Жыл бұрын
💪🇺🇸
😎 Congrats on this restoration, and thanks for sharing! My last training flight in the T-38 was a night solo 26 years ago - loved that jet, especially when flying by myself. 🤘 That’s a short runway… Please post more of this - Fly Safe! 👍🫡
@chadwickalexanderjr1758
Жыл бұрын
5,342 ft! My home airport has a 12,500ft and a 10,000 ft runway! I like to remind people that pretty much anywhere you go is going to be considered "short field" when you leave HSV.
I remember an airshow in Canada in the early 1980s where a 4 ship flight of CF5s snuck in from behind the crowd to start the show. with a surprise. What an awesome sound.
Cool stuff Jello…I’m impressed someone held a video camera up for the whole flight 💪🏻😂
1950s technology! When I worked at Naval Air Station Fallon Nevada, they used the F-5s as bogeys for air-to-air combat training against F-18s. I thought it was a cool plane in 1991 when I first saw it from an Air Traffic Control Tower on the ground, and it's a cool plane today!
Quite close to 100K, Great footage as always!
Very cool video. Rejoins and formation flying were expertly done. As an old USAF pilot, brings back memories of formation flying in T-38s.
I'm already Over the hill but I'll tell you what I feel like a kid again watching this video way to go guys this is awesome
The F-5 has some of the cleanest lines in my humble opinion. Beautiful aircraft.
now that is - just another day in paradise ..nice flight video.
Thank you for your sharing this beautiful footage 👌🙏
@FighterPilotPodcast
Жыл бұрын
You're welcome!
I used to fly out of KMYF and land at KSEE regularly. Would absolutely love the chance to fly a fighter someday! Amazing job!
Good stuff! I love it! Thank you!
That paint job is beautiful!
Great shot of landing. Yall are doing it right.
Yeah, good luck trying to detect leaks by a fly under, lol. That camo pattern is damn confusing. Lol. Great job to all who brought these back to life, we’re forever grateful. SFC DeVos. I just realized these had leading edge adjustable camber! There’s hardly any rigid wing surface to begin with! Incredible design for being made in the 60’s. I’m a retired Infantryman but my father is out of Redding and had a few old L-29’s he had me turn wrenches on in the late 90’s which he sold and bought a Long EZ, the one Burt Rutan owned and used as his chase plane.
Beautiful video!
@sylencecured77
Жыл бұрын
totally agree 👍👊
Lots of your commenters have a pretty narrow world view. We are very proud of our CF 5's and CF86's. Both built within 50 miles of the US border and 5 miles from my house.... but flying under the radar figuratively speaking LOL. Thanks for posting!
Holy crap! That was you guys?!?! I damn near caused multiple accidents staring at those beautiful birds flying around Santee
@FighterPilotPodcast
Жыл бұрын
🤣
@NotMe-hm2zd
Жыл бұрын
Same here!
Absolutely love this jet! What a beautiful day, too!
@FighterPilotPodcast
Жыл бұрын
San Diego 😉
Awesome Been A Fan Of The F5 And T38 Ever Since I Watched Area 88. I Have Several 1/72 Scale Model Kits Of The F5+T38 Now. And I’Ve Grown To Like The 2Seat Versions Of The F5.
OUTSTANDING!!
The livery is awesome, as well!
Sweet! Memory from RAF Alconbury days F-5/J85-21 Aggressor days. Thanks!!
@Tempus-N0X
Жыл бұрын
Wow…haven’t heard that name since the late eighties….worked the microwave links at the end of the runway area…used watch the U2’s land with the chase cars….what site!!!
@emmettw123
Жыл бұрын
Best assignment I ever had overseas! 1979-1982
SEE seems to be growing by leaps and bounds . As a Navy PH (and later AC), I flew out of Gillespie Field from 1977 to 2003 - first with an Aeronca Champ, and later with a Cessna 120. Life was great in nineteen seventy eight.
Beautiful aircraft!
Great video! Great jet!!
Aahhhhh....the lovely process of turning Jet-A into a feast of sight, sound and smell!!
@deeconger2641
Жыл бұрын
. . . Jet A in the morning - smells like victory. . .
I did some work in the hangar where Circle Air was working on these. CAG did do a great job on them. It was cool to see some of the restoration process from September when first there to February on my second trip. These are ex-Canadian T-38s or at least that is what the data plate said. They mixed Garmin displays with some of the original Avionics. Really sweet.
@FighterPilotPodcast
Жыл бұрын
CF-5, if I remember correctly, but that profile sure looks like a T-38 to me.
@GrizzAxxemann
Жыл бұрын
@@FighterPilotPodcast IIRC, Canadair did a few mods to the overall design. Officially, it's known as the CF-116. A models were single seat, D models were trainers. They used to be used as the lead-in trainers for the CF-188.
@Skyshade
Жыл бұрын
Canada has never operated T-38 actually. Their CF-5D is F-5B, which is basically armed T-38 with wingtip rail/tank. There's no T-38 with wingtip rail or tank, that's the easiest way to tell T-38 and F-5B apart.
Thanks for taking me along for the ride, I do wish you would have looked out over the wings at the scenery at take off and climb though, it’s unnatural to stare at one obscure obstructed corner of the forward cockpit during this most exciting phase of flight - unless specifically focusing on instruments it boggles the mind that someone not PIC would not look out during takeoff.
@FighterPilotPodcast
Жыл бұрын
Will do better next time.
Lindo! Meus parabéns. O melhor caça já projetado, na minha opinião. Sucesso total!!!
Nice landing in the displaced threshold!
A supersonic 978 mph (Mach 1.3) 2 seater civilian aircraft = priceless.
Thanks for the ride!!!!
@FighterPilotPodcast
Жыл бұрын
😎
One of the most beautiful aircrafts ever...
awesome! I always wondered why all those F-5/T-38 parts were sitting there on Kenny Street, now I know! Great job CAG! F-5 Is "the real" last gunfighter!
@ghostrider1827
Жыл бұрын
WRONG. That title belongs to the Tomcat..as the "REAL LAST Gunfighter"
@johnhickman106
Жыл бұрын
@@ghostrider1827 Wrong, that title was coined by pilots of the F-8 Crusader. The F-14 came along after they reintroduced building fighters with a cannon after the brass realized leaving it off the F-4 was ridiculous.
@ghostrider1827
Жыл бұрын
@@johnhickman106 I KNOW when it was coined. And then came... THE TOMCAT. The last of the real analog fighters ... everything after is FBW.
@johnhickman106
Жыл бұрын
@@ghostrider1827 GOOD FOR YOU. The name Last Gunfighter has nothing to do with analog though so keep going down this ridiculous path. So you have a soft spot for the F-14. The F-15 was right there with it as an analog fighter, genius. Since the F-15 first flew two years after the Tomcat’s first flight, that would make it, the last one based on your logic.
@johnhickman106
Жыл бұрын
@@ghostrider1827 Nothing else from "Mr. I KNOW"?
Beautiful aircraft..
I recognize this specific f5 this one and 2 or 3 other f5s with that tail art that is checkered flys into the alpine Wyoming airpark for the 4th of July seriously one of the reasons why I love going up to Wyoming for the 4th
I flew a P-40 into Gillespie back in 2021 for a buyer that bought it from Courtesy Aircraft in KRFD
where I soloed long ago nice video thankyou!
Ahhh, SEE. I know that pattern very well! Got my PPL at Golden State there back in 2014. I miss the heck outta San Diego.
wow wow wow, Love this content!
Looks more like AT 38B. F5s look different. As areo repair veteran, absolutely love this video.
@FighterPilotPodcast
Жыл бұрын
Looks can be deceiving.
Awesome. Reminds me of UPT at Columbus AFB, MS. Nice planes and flying 👍
@FighterPilotPodcast
Жыл бұрын
Except you probably flew the T-38. While this looks similar, it's actually a Canadian-built CF-5D.
@ericwright7570
Жыл бұрын
@@FighterPilotPodcast True. Looks like what I remember from T-38's, but I'm sure these had more power.
I really need to take a ride in an F-5. Amazing footage Mover, thank you.
Nice paint job!!
Great !!! thanks !!! 😃🤩👋👍👍👍👍
With you!!
Man, this is so cool
Amazing!!!
That's awesome!!
Beautiful
Bravo!!!
It does look very much like a mix of t-38 and f-5. I see parts from both jets.
The 12-yr old boy still inside of me is about to explode. This would be a dream come true. So light and powerful. The velocitization felt after the flight must be near euphoric. I'd feel like Peter Parker facing the bully in the hallway after stepping out of this, the whole world in slow motion.
Never flew the F-5 but both the A-4 and F-4, in Vietnam. It's a beautiful paint job. Not too many privates remaining. I see a few at Catalina Island occasionally.
Interesting new livery on the MiG-28s :D ! Jokes aside, nice to see them fly :)
That digital camo is killer!
Whoa. That would be amazing.
The best looking aircraft ever made
I see it’s legit. That’s amazing good for you gentlemen that digital Cammo is amazing
This was like watching a vintage car race never leaves second gear
"MIG 28s! Nobodies been this close before!"
@ronaldkonkoma4356
10 ай бұрын
Since the F-14 was retired in 2006 they have been entering our airspace at will. Nobody can stop them.
First hand report: The F-5E Is a magnificet fighter. In particular the unique F-5Es ship sets perfectly assembled for the Swiss Air Force at F+W flying factory in Switzerland. They have a specially designed Northrop wing upgrade that could accept a higher wing load (1.5 /gs) that all the other F-5E and F-5Fs. They were so well assembled and maintained by Swiss technicians and engineers that many were sold back to the U.S. as Navy as Aggressor Aircraft for use at the USN Fallon Top Gun school. They were also used in the movie Top Gun. Many are still flight worthy at NASA. Switzerland replaced the F-5s with the Northrop designed F-18E/F platforms. To this day if two F-5s with Snakes get on you 6 via AWACKs without lighting you up you're dead.
@yorkan213swd6
7 ай бұрын
Hi, what is AWACKS ? And with lighting up you turn the radar on ?
Canada at one point had over 100 CF-5s in storage. Couldn't give them away. I think a lot of the CF-5Ds were actually upgraded to be lead-in trainers for the CF-18 in the early 80s. Would explain the lack of wingtip tanks and rails in place of.
@michaelhazuda2703
Жыл бұрын
I worked E,F and Bs at Williams Afb and we tried that removing Tip Tanks and weapons put on missile rails instead but they were still DOGS with those T-38 motors!!-13s compared to -21s on the Es and Fs!
@bobbeardsley1818
11 ай бұрын
I was the last Sqn Ops O when we retired the upgraded jets. Flew mostly with tip tanks and only rails with centerline tank for air to air trg. The upgrade package was awesome. Shame we had to retire them so early but politics dictated otherwise.
awesome!
one of my favs
Dude smacked it down!! Seems like a very short runway to land an F-5 at. Not much room for error there.
fantastic
I believe that is the first twin seat F-5 I have ever seen. I have always seen just the single seat F-5s. The only twin seat jets I remember seeing during my time in the USAF were the T-38s, which are basically the same jet without the armament.
@v1_rotate638
Жыл бұрын
T38 also has lower thrust from the engines
@michaelhazuda2703
Жыл бұрын
I worked on B and F models at Willie for 8 years in the AF and for NWASI then Yuma for a few months. Those -13 Motors are DOGS compared to the-21s on the Es. I got 2 rides at Willie once in a B then in an F model we flew to Miramar and I flew without a G Suit when we pitched out to land those 5 Gs I REALLY felt on my legs! It was a BLAST and the other F model Ground aborted because of High EGT but we STILL took off! The Capt I flew with eventually became a General at Langley " SUEDE" Dylewski ,,,,, AWESOME guy!
@sanfranciscobay
Жыл бұрын
F5 and T38 are totally different airplanes that just look similar.
@oubrioko
Жыл бұрын
@@sanfranciscobay The *F-5B* uses the T-38 fuselage, the _F-5A_ does not. The original F-5 Freedom Fighter wings, engines and avionics are indeed different from the T-38
@sanfranciscobay
Жыл бұрын
@@oubrioko From what I remember, the 2 airplanes look similar/almost identical but there are no exterior panels and interior frame parts that are interchangeable. Meaning they are 2 completely different airplanes.
The T-38/F-5 is one aircraft that just does NOT look like it is as old a design as it is. First built in 1952, it looks like it could be one of today's designs. And if there is a twin engined supersonic jet that even comes close to being affordable to operate and maintain for a mere mortal man, this is probably it.
The digital camo is so unique and out of the world! It's so beautiful and more importantly, effective!
Dang, that latest DCS update is spot on.
@FighterPilotPodcast
10 ай бұрын
Is it? Wouldn't know. ...but what does that have to do with this?
The chase plane could sure use a bit of dusting and repainting in its cockpit, sure enough.
What a beautiful thing