01/31/2008. This is the first of four F-5G’s, c/n GI-101 to GI-104,
although not acquired by the USAF they received the USAF s/n
82-0062 to 82-0065. Derived from the F-5E, the
private venture tactical fighter was heavily redesigned and had the
original two 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) s.t General Electric J85-GE-21B
turbojet engines replaced by a single 16,000 lb (7,257 kg) s.t General
Electric F404 low-bypass turbofan. First flown by Russ Scott from
Edwards AFB, California, USA, on August 30, 1982, it achieved Mach
1.04 (771 mph, 1,241 kmh).
The type was redesignated F-20 in November 1982, the second prototype
was flown August 26, 1983, while the third flew for the first time on
May 12, 1984. The three aircraft received a civil registration, N4416T,
N3986B and N44671 respectively.
The first aircraft was lost while flying a demonstration at Suwon in
Korea on October 10, 1984. While making a climbing roll the plane
stalled and crashed, test pilot Darrel Cornell did not eject and was
killed. The second aircraft was lost while flying a similar maneuver
during a demonstration practice (for the Paris Air Show later that
month) at Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada, on May 14, 1985,
killing the pilot, David Barnes. In both cases G-force induced pilot
loss of consciousness was the suspected cause.
The fourth prototype was not finished and the type did not go into
production. The third aircraft is preserved at the California Science
Center, Los Angeles, California.
