Originally Posted by
Green Meat
Hmm, does look pretty much like an F20 with an extra fin!
Remember, though, F5s repeatedly kicked the backsides of USN fighter jockies a la Top Gun, USAF Aggressor squadrons et cetera - wonder what the state of Iranian pilot training is? Do you think they've gone contractorised?
Of course, the F-20 did have the honking big F404 engine and not the dog whistles of the F-5.
And for F-5s v more capable fighter, you're right and wrong. Performance wise, unless in close, nope, not a chance against anything more modern than the F-4. It was selected for the role because it was the closest thing we had to a MiG-21. Small, hard to see and could turn better. When crewed by the more experienced pilots of the various Aggressor squadons, it did its job well and taught the more junior pilots/crews to not fight on the MiG-21's terms but rather use the speed and vertical plane to tangle.
During the first parts of RED FLAGS or roadshows where the Aggressors came to Base X, the F-5s did well. Once the learning curve occurred, the F-5s usually got waxed.
As always, it comes down to the meat servo operating the jet, not just the jet. Or so I've been told.