F-5

F-5
Role
Manufacturer	Imperium Aerospace
Introduction	1547
Retired	n/a
Status	operational
Produced	###

The F-5 Tonitrui (Thunder} is lightweight, single-engine, supersonic multi-role fighter, designed by Imperium Aerospace in the mid-1540s as a further evolution of the F-4. the F-5 can be used or aerial reconnaissance, ground attack and aircraft interception among many other roles.

The F-5 can deploy diverse ordnance, including air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, and a 23 mm twin-barrel autocannon. The aircraft was accepted into the Drah Imperial Air Force, in the mid-1540s and an improved version, the F-5B was accepted into service in the mid 1550s, and added a refueling probe, ISRT/electronic warfare system, and an updated glass cockpit.

Design

Airframe

The air-frame is a semi-monocoque structure constructed primary of aluminium alloys with high strength steel and titanium alloys are used in some critical areas. In the F-5B the greater use of composite material in the airframe help reduce the weight of the aircraft. The retractable undercarriage has a tricycle arrangement with a single steerable nose-wheel and two main undercarriages. The position and intake or the air intakes has been designed to give the required airflow to the get engine during maneuvers involving high angles of attack.

The mid-mounted wings have a cropped-delta configuration. Near the wing root are the leading-edge extensions, which generate a vortex that provides extra lift to the wing at high angles of attack encountered during combat maneuvers. A conventional tri-plane empennage arrangement is incorporated, with all-moving stabilizers, single vertical stabilizer, rudder, and twin ventral fins. The flight control surfaces are operated by a computerized flight control system (FCS), which also adjusts the slats/flaps for improved maneuverability.

The glass cockpit is covered by a transparent, acrylic canopy that provides the pilot with a good, all-round field of view. A centre stick is used for pitch and roll control while rudder pedals control yaw. A throttle is located to the left of the pilot. The cockpit incorporates hands-on-throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) controls. The pilot sits on a zero-zero ejection seat. The cockpit incorporates an electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) and a wide-angle, holographic head-up display (HUD), which has a minimum total field of view of 25 degrees. The EFIS comprises three colour multi-function displays, providing basic flight information, tactical information, and information on the engine, fuel, electrical, hydraulics, flight control, and environment control systems. The HUD and MFD can be configured to show any available information.

Specifications (F-5B)

F-5A on display

• Crew: one
• Length: 14.93 m (49 ft)
• Wingspan: 9.45 m (31 ft)
• Height: 4.72 m (15 ft 6 in)
• Wing area: 24.4 m² (263 ft²)
• Empty weight: 6,586 kg (14,520 lb)
• Loaded weight: 12,400 kg (28,600 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 12,500 kg (28,000 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × afterburning turbofans
• Dry thrust: 53 kN
• Thrust with afterburner: 88 kN

• Maximum speed: Mach 1.6 (1,217.9 mph; 1,960.1 km/h)
• Range: 2,704 km (1680 mi), without refueling
• Combat radius: 1,352 km (840 mi), without refueling
• Ferry range: 3,482 km (2,163 mi), without refueling
• Service ceiling: 16,920 m (55,500 ft)
• Rate of climb: 285 m/s (56,102 ft/min)
• Thrust/weight: 1.09
• Max. maneuvering load factor: +8 g / -3 g

• Guns: 1× 23 mm cannon, 430 rounds
• Hardpoints: 7 in total (4 × under-wing, 2 × wing-tip, 1 × under-fuselage) with a capacity of 3,629 kg (8,001 lb) for external fuel and ordnance

Operators

• Template:Country data XCww8hG.png Drahen
• Template:Country data n/a Hôinôm
• Template:Country data Flag-ISH.png Ishnalla