F-20 TIGERSHARK

Northrop F-20 "Tigershark" is a single-seat, single-engine fighter plane, which is a far-reaching modernization of the F-5 aircraft. The flight of the F-20 took place in 1982, and its main difference compared to the F-5 is the use of a single General Electric F404 engine, which still provides the machine with 60% more thrust than its "big brother". The Northrop F-20 has a cantilever low wing configuration. The plane is equipped with the latest developments in the field of electronics. The F-20 cabin is equipped with a modern information display system. The basic information for the correct execution of the task is displayed on several screens. At the same time, particular attention was paid to the reliability of various sets of equipment, especially radio-electronic, defined as the average working time after which serious damage to the device may occur, preventing its operation. The airplane control system is partially electric and the backup system is mechanical. The F-20 can be equipped with various sets of weapons. These sets include laser guidance bombs, air-to-ground Maverick missiles, a cartridge with a 30 mm cannon, and air-to-air Sidewinder missiles. The permanent element of the armament are two 20 mm M-20 rapid-firing cannons. They are mounted in the front upper part of the fuselage and the muzzle outlets are visible in front of the pilot's cabin. With bombs weighing 7 x 227 kg and hanging fuel tanks, the operating radius of the aircraft is 700 km. The weight of the suspended armament on 4 under-wing knots and one under the fuselage exceeds 3600 kg. Unfortunately, the plane did not enter service. The US Air Force concluded that it would be cheaper to order more F-16s than waiting for the F-20 prototype to be refined. So far, only three flying prototypes have been built. The first was flown on August 30, 1982, the second on August 26, 1983. In October 1984, the first prototype crashed during the demonstrations in South Korea, the second one crashed on May 14, 1985. Technical data: Maximum speed: 2600 km / h, maximum ceiling 16800 m, maximum range: 2760 km, armament: fixed - two 20mm M20 cannons, suspended - up to 3600 kg of cargo.