Skip to main content
Ingenium Logo

You are leaving IngeniumCanada.org

✖


This link leads to an external website that Ingenium does not control. Please read the third-party’s privacy policies before entering personal information or conducting a transaction on their site.

Have questions? Review our Privacy Statement

Vous quittez IngeniumCanada.org

✖


Ce lien mène à un site Web externe qu'Ingenium ne contrôle pas. Veuillez lire les politiques de confidentialité des tiers avant de partager des renseignements personnels ou d'effectuer une transaction sur leur site.

Questions? Consultez notre Énoncé de confidentialité

Ingenium Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Langue

  • Français
Search Toggle

Menu des liens rapides

  • Tickets
  • Ingenium Locations
  • Shop
  • Donate
  • Join
Menu

Main Navigation

  • Plan Your Visit
    • Health and Safety
    • Hours
    • Admission
    • Location and Directions
    • Accessibility
    • Browse All Visitor Information
    • Buy Tickets
    • Online Resources for Science at Home
    • About the Museum
  • What's On at the Museum
    • Events
    • Exhibitions
    • Flights and Simulations
    • Spaces and Studios
  • Bookings and Rentals
    • School Programs
    • Summer Camps
    • Venue Rentals
    • Travelling Exhibitions
    • Virtual Field Trips
    • Group Visits
    • Birthday Parties
  • Educational Programs
    • School Programs
    • Virtual Field Trips
    • Program Location
      • At the Museum
      • At your School
      • Online
      • Browse all Educational Programs
    • Popular Links
      • 3D Educational Resources
      • Digital Learning Kits
      • Games and Apps
      • Online Resources for Science at Home
      • Try This Out
  • Collection and Research
    • Research Institute
    • Research Projects
    • Collection Resources
      • Ingenium Collection
      • Collection Highlights
      • Conservation and Collection Services
    • Library and Archives
      • Library and Archives Services
      • Library Catalogue
      • Digital Archives
    • Open Access
      • Ingenium APIs
      • Open Data
      • Open Documents
  • Projects and Initiatives
    • Ingenium Channel
    • The Legacy Series
    • Let's Talk Energy

Canadair CF-116 (CF-5A)

Hours and Location

Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday to Monday
Address
11 Aviation Parkway, Ottawa, ON
Admission
Browse all Visitor Information for Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Browse All Visitor Information

Canadair CF-116 (CF-5A)

Canadair CF-116 (CF-5A)

Highlights:

  • A U.S. supersonic fighter bomber designed and built by Northrop Aircraft of Hawthorne, California (also made in Canada, South Korea, Switzerland and Taiwan) and produced from 1962 to 1989
  • Closely related to a two-seater trainer known as the T-38 Talon
  • F-5 was widely supplied through U.S. Military Assistance Program and operated in thirty-four countries
  • A Canadian version of the Northrop F-5 was the "Freedom Fighter," a low-cost, low-maintenance fighter that reversed the 1950s trend of large expensive fighters
  • Produced by Canadair Limited in Montreal; was the last fighter manufactured in Canada
  • Engines were made in Canada by Orenda Limited
  • Used by Canadian Forces on NATO missions and as a trainer for pilots transitioning to the CF-18
  • First flight was on July 30th, 1959

Image Gallery:

CASM-33405

CASM-33223

History:

The Northrop F-5 helped reverse the 1950s trend that favored the development of large and expensive tactical fighters. Employing high-thrust but low-weight engines initially designed for guided missiles, the aircraft was planned as an affordable replacement for the subsonic jets developed after Second World War. The United States Air Force showed more interest in the two-seat versions as supersonic trainers, the world’s first. As the fighter version was well suited for defending a small country’s borders, it became the developing world’s most widely used light-weight fighter through the U.S. Government’s Military Assistance Program.

A modified version was built in Canada during the late 1960s and early 1970s, the last fighter manufactured in this country. Modifications included a probe for air-to-air refueling, more sophisticated avionics and higher powered Canadian-built engines. Many went directly into storage after Canada reduced its NATO commitments but those used in the training role became popular with fighter pilots making the transition to the CF-18.

Current Location:

Jet Age Exhibition, Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Provenance:

Transfer from the Canadian Forces

This CF-5 (officially designated CF-116) was manufactured by Canadair Limited of Montreal, Quebec in August 1970. Delivered to the Canadian Armed Forces in December of that year, it was put in storage until 1979.

Over the course of its active career, the aircraft was based at several locations across Canada, including Trenton, Ontario; Chatham, New Brunswick; and most frequently at Cold Lake, Alberta. It was put in storage in 1995.

The CF-5 was transferred to the Museum by the Canadian Forces in 1997. It retains its Warsaw Pact "aggressor" markings from its last training exercises.

Technical Information:

Wing Span 7.9 m (25 ft 8 in)
Length 14.4 m (47 ft 2 in)
Height 14.4 m (47 ft 2 in)
Weight, Empty 3,937 kg (8,680 lb)
Weight, Gross 9,249 kg (20,390 lb)
Cruising Speed N/A
Max Speed 1,200 km/h (748 mph)
Rate of Climb 9,450 m (31,000 ft) /min
Service Ceiling 15,240 m (50,000 ft)
Range 630 km (390 miles)
Power Plant two Orenda J85-CAN-15 1,950 kg (4,300 lb) thrust each with afterburner

Canadair CF-116 (CF-5A)

AVIATION
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Artifact No.
1997.0279
Manufacturer
Canadair Ltd.
Manufacturer Location
Canada
Manufacture Date
1970
Acquisition Date
1997
Registration Number
116763 (CF)
  • View all the collection highlights at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum
  • View other collection highlights related to Aviation

Footer

About Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Located on a former military air base just five kilometers from the Prime Minister’s residence at 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum focuses on aviation in Canada within an international context – from its beginnings in 1909 to today.
Read more about the museum

Contact Us

Canada Aviation and Space Museum
11 Aviation Parkway
Ottawa ON K1K 2X5
Canada

613-991-3044
1-866-442-4416
contact@IngeniumCanada.org
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Museum

    • About the Museum
    • Visitor Information
    • Accessibility
    • Careers
  • Visit

    • Online Resources for Science at Home
    • Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
    • Canada Aviation and Space Museum
    • Canada Science and Technology Museum
    • Ingenium Centre
  • Support

    • The Foundation
    • Ways to Donate
    • Membership
    • Corporate Memberships
    • Volunteering
    • Partnerships
    • Online Boutique
    • Venue Rentals
    • Book a Travelling Exhibition
  • For Media

    • Newsroom
    • Awards
    • The Channel

Connect with us

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest Ingenium news straight to your inbox!

Sign Up

Legal Bits

Ingenium Privacy Statement

© 2023 Ingenium

Symbol of the Government of Canada
  • Plan Your Visit
    • Health and Safety
    • Hours
    • Admission
    • Location and Directions
    • Accessibility
    • Browse All Visitor Information
    • Buy Tickets
    • Online Resources for Science at Home
    • About the Museum
  • What's On at the Museum
    • Events
    • Exhibitions
    • Flights and Simulations
    • Spaces and Studios
  • Bookings and Rentals
    • School Programs
    • Summer Camps
    • Venue Rentals
    • Travelling Exhibitions
    • Virtual Field Trips
    • Group Visits
    • Birthday Parties
  • Educational Programs
    • School Programs
    • Virtual Field Trips
    • Program Location
      • At the Museum
      • At your School
      • Online
      • Browse all Educational Programs
    • Popular Links
      • 3D Educational Resources
      • Digital Learning Kits
      • Games and Apps
      • Online Resources for Science at Home
      • Try This Out
  • Collection and Research
    • Research Institute
    • Research Projects
    • Collection Resources
      • Ingenium Collection
      • Collection Highlights
      • Conservation and Collection Services
    • Library and Archives
      • Library and Archives Services
      • Library Catalogue
      • Digital Archives
    • Open Access
      • Ingenium APIs
      • Open Data
      • Open Documents
  • Projects and Initiatives
    • Ingenium Channel
    • The Legacy Series
    • Let's Talk Energy