The Hawthorne AF F-5/62 (Allied Pact reporting name Fang) is a supersonic lightweight fighter designed in the late 1950s by the Hawthorne Aircraft Factory. Being smaller and simpler than contemporaries such as the St. Louis AF F-4/58, the F-5 cost less to both procure and operate, making it a popular export aircraft. The F-5 started life as a privately funded light fighter program by Hawthorne AF in the 1950s. The design team wrapped a small, highly aerodynamic fighter around two compact and high-thrust J85 engines, focusing on performance and low cost of maintenance. Though primarily designed for the day air superiority role, the aircraft is also a capable ground-attack platform. From the 1980s onwards, it was replaced by the F-16/78 Falcon and F-18/78 Hornet.
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Hawthorne AF F-5/62
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