[MarkSheppard]

Candair CF-5 Freedom Fighter

In the late 1960s, Venezula decided to replace the Vampire/Venom force, along with the F-86 Sabre/Sabredog force. They saw an opportunity when 73 of the single-seat CF-5A aircraft procured for the RCAF had to be kept in storage due to the lack of operating funds. Venezula decided to buy 20 of them in 1972; broken down as:

16 x CF-5A (redesignated VF-5A) single seaters, ex RCAF
2 x CF-5D (redesignated VF-5D) two seater trainers, ex RCAF.
2 x CF-116D (redesignated VF-5D) two seater; new build; delivered 1974.

All of the Freedom Fighters were assigned to Grupo de Caza No 12. based at Barquisimeto. Two of the single seat CF-5As were converted into reconnaissance aircraft and designated RVF-5A. They were the first supersonic aircraft in the Venezulan Air Force and carried AIM-9, Mk 82 and M117 bombs in addition to 70mm rockets.

By 1990, seven aircraft had been lost, and in May 1990 fatigue and budget problems forced the entire VF-5 fleet into storage.

However, in late 1990, seven surplus NF-5s were bought from the Netherlands; broken down as:

6 x NF-5B
1 x NF-5A

They arrived in 1993; but the order for them allowed the 13 surviving VF-5As and single VF-5D to be sent off for refurbishment under "Proyecto Grifo" (Project Gryphon); with the contract for that being signed in June 1990. It was due to this ongoing upgrade program that the majority of the VF-5 force missed the 17 November 1992 coup attempt; but three VF-5s were destroyed by a rebel OV-10 Bronco attacking the airbase.

The upgrade program allowed Grupo 12 to operate the type until the early 2010s, with the following operational:

8 x VF-5A
3 x NF-5B
1 x VF-5D

mainly operating as a training group for the F-16 and Mirage fleet. They were replaced by the Hongdu JL-8W (K-8W) from 2010 onwards.