Posted on 02/17/2017 11:49:05 AM PST by CivilWarBrewing
No. There is no link other than Northrop. Not a variant, not an evolution.
Completely different aircraft.
Northrup design studio had numerous paper projects between the F-5 and the YF-17. If you look at the drawings you see the progression. That doesn’t mean the 17 wasn’t a “clean slate” design, just that the designers worked off of what they knew.
Technically, it began with the N-102 Fang.
The F-5 was designed and produced by Northrop, where as the F-18 was designed Northrup (YF-17), but later produced by McDonnell Douglas (F-18) .
Northrop merged with Grumman. McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing.
The last true F-5 iteration was the F-20. The F-18 was a new design for the light weight fighter program. The current F-18 Super Hornet is not considered a LWF and has more in common with the F-15 as an air superiority fighter.
Article here the other day about a possible A-10 replacement that used a new Metal Foam as Armor. Ridiculous design with a single Engine, Prop and Jet variants. The Airframe could never take the abuse the current A-10 does and has.
If the new lightweight Armor Foam is that good, use that technology in a new A-10 so it will be lighter and can carry additional Ordinance.
Had no idea we had that many in Mothballs.
Time to upgrade and we would save tons of money as well.
President Trump, President Trump. please pickup the Free Republic Courtesy Phone.
Give them to the Marines.
The Air Force is not the place for Ground Support Aircraft.
Well, we did use F-18’s to kick the Aliens Butts in Independence Day.
The President and Randy Quaid both flew them as I recall.
I've long been in the fan club, but I thought the F-5 was a "clean sheet" design.
I didn't know about the N-102 Fang part of its evolution.
Thanks!
“You mean like the B-52 ?”
We keep those around because they are easy to maintain bomb trucks. In a conflict against a near peer enemy they are dead meat until enemy air and air defense are totally neutralized.
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