CF-5 Freedom Fighter

Here in Calgary, alongside always busy Crowchild Trail, on the grounds of the Military Museums, there’s a plane. It’s not just any old thing with wings, but a fighter jet, a CF-5 Freedom Fighter, stuffed and mounted to appear as though streaking off into the heavens. Whoosh! Here, it’s a machine designed with one purpose in mind, protecting the things we all hold dear, sovereignty and the well being of the people. It’s a tool, plain and simple, that no one ever hoped would ever get used, but was needed as a sort of insurance policy. That’s how it’s always been – prepare for war but pray it never comes.

Looking as though an oversized lawn-dart, it’s there right beside the road and is seen by tens of thousands of passing motorists each and every day. And I bet a lot of these folks, maybe even you, get curious for a closer look. Well, it happened to us. Guess it’s time to pay it a visit…and you’re welcome to come join us. Over this way, down past those tanks – there it is, all brightly lit up.*

Before anything else, a big shout out to the Military Museums for accommodating us after dark. A most dedicated group these people were so to helpful to us and I know we can be a pain at times (was worried they’d make us drop and do twenty). These here shots were commissioned by a Veteran’s Association in honour of Remembrance Day, all our time and expertise, a sorry pittance that it is, a gift to them, but they turned out so well we just had to post them here and write up this here article.

The CF-5 (also designated CF-116x) was a Canadian made version of the Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter produced by Canadair in Montreal. This firm is now a division of Bombardier Aerospace – Canadair being famous today for their business and regional jets. Fighters and trainers, transport aircraft and fire fighting planes were their stock and trade in the 1950s-1970s period, however.

Starting in the late 1960s and into the 1970s the firm license built 135 CF-5s for use in Canada and 105 NF-5s for use by the Netherlands Armed Forces. Two configurations were made, single seat fighters and dual seat advanced trainers. Some of the former were also configured for reconnaissance use in Canada. Planes here were ordered by the Royal Canadian Air Force, but by the time delivered, with all arms of the military then newly unified, became property of the Canadian Armed Forces.

In the US production spanned the period late-1950s to mid-1980s with a couple thousand being built across two generations, the original F-5 Freedom Fighter and the later F-5 Tiger II. Many forces the world over operated F-5s. Northrop was a big player in the field of military aviation and this design was their most popular of the jet era. Today the company is known as Northrop Grumman.

The F-5 was fairly simple in design, making them cheaper to produce and maintain when compared to other fighters. Still it was a robust and capable aircraft. Each weighed in at some 9000 kilos fully loaded and equipped. Maximum speed was some 1500 clicks per hour…some drivers on Crowchild could give it a run for its money. Armaments included cannons, bombs or rockets or some combo there of. Drop tanks for extra fuel could also be added and can be seen on this example. At some fourteen metres long, eight wide and four tall, it’s a compact little beast. It’s described in Northrop ads as a “light fighter” (also called a “budget fighter”).

Canadian versions differed somewhat from their US built counterparts, to better suit requirements and conditions up here in the Great White North. These mods included air to air refuelling probes and changes to the landing gear, among others. Engines, two per air frame, were General Electric designed but made in Canada by a firm called Orenda (who also made engines, of a different design, for the legendary Avro Arrow).

These planes operated out of a number of bases in Canada, Cold Lake Alberta and Bagotville Quebec starting in the late 1960s and later in Chatham New Brunswick. Squadrons were #433 (Porcupine) Tactical Fighter Squadron, #434 (Bluenose) Operational Training Squadron and #419 (Moose) Tactical Fighter Training Squadron. As they were called at the time.

CF-5s, in a fighter role, were replaced by CF-18s in the 1980s, but continued to be used well into the 1990s as trainers (in Cold Lake). Some of these aircraft took part in NATO exercises in Northern Europe in the 1970s-1980s period. Early in some that were surplus were sold to Venezuela who used them into the 2000s. That country also acquired some Canadian built examples second hand from the Netherlands too. The African nation of Botswana currently rosters some ex-Canadian Forces CF-5s.

This particular plane seen was retired in 1995 and a decade later found its way to the Military Museums here in Southwest Calgary. This is not the only CF-5 on display and a good number of museums, airports and military bases across the country have examples.

There’s many other things to see on the grounds of the Military Museums, not to mention all the amazing things inside. Included in the outdoor collection are a sampling of armoured military transports and tanks, including one of the latter from the Cold War era and made in Russia and other Communist Bloc Countries, so what was the enemy then (the Red Menace, Reds, Commies, etc, as they were often called). It’s a model T-72, one of tens of thousands made. Check out the business end of this monster. We hoped to put some Cyrillic-written messages in this post, in the tone of old-school Communist propaganda, but we could not make the translations work.

Also photographed this visit (and we’ll be back) is HMCS Huron’s Screw, a giant ship’s prop (I know screw is the proper term) that came from a retried naval destroyer. It weights just over six thousand kilos.

The Military Museums, formerly Museum of the Regiments, has been around close to thirty years. It’s a most amazing place touching on this countries war and peacekeeping history, with many great displays and exhibits to view. It’s a must see but you don’t have to wait till Remembrance Day to go, you can do it anytime. Here: The Military Museums Calgary. And when visiting, speak to the old timers (if available) who act as interpreters. You’ll learn much.

*In fact, we covered the lights momentarily with big buckets when shooting so it wasn’t so harsh for the photos (you can see one in one photo). They thought us crazy – “what, you want less light at night?”

In a similar theme…
CFS Alsask Dome – watching the skies.
Canadian Forces Station Alsask – a Cold War era base.
In Event of Nucular Attack! – a massive bomb shelter.

If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!

Date: October, 2018.
Location: Calgary, AB.
Article references and thanks: The Military Museums Calgary, Canadian Armed Forces, Air Force Association of Canada.
Pay the Military Museums a visit – you won’t regret it.

At the Military Museums in Calgary.

On the grounds, this “CF-5 Freedom Fighter”.

It’s right next to busy Crowchild Trail.

Off into the heavens…

The business end of this Communist Bloc tank.

And this massive ship’s prop.