Canadair CF - 5 The Canadair CF - 5 ( officially designated the CF - 116 Freedom Fighter ) was the Canadair licensed - built version of the American Northrop F - 5 Freedom Fighter aircraft primarily for the Canadian Forces . The CF - 5 was upgraded periodically throughout its service career in Canada . The Canadian Forces retired the type in 1995 , although CF - 5s continued to be used by other countries into the early 21st century . The CF - 5 was ordered by the Royal Canadian Air Force , which became part of the Canadian Forces on 1 February 1968 . The new unified force took delivery of the first CF - 5s ( it was almost universally referred to as the CF - 5 except in official documentation ) at the end of 1968 . Total production by Canadair for Canadian Forces was 89 single - seat aircraft and 46 dual - seat aircraft . Many were also built for the Netherlands and Norway as well , and some surplus aircraft were sold to Venezuela . Design and development . Originally designed by Northrop as a low - cost , disposable , low - maintenance fighter jet , the F - 5 was intended for use by air forces that had limited resources and technical expertise to maintain a sophisticated aircraft . For Canada , which had an extensive aerospace industry , selection of the F - 5 was seen as a step backwards . Selected originally to provide a tactical support role based in Canada , CF - 5 squadrons were also committed to NATO ' s northern flank to act as a rapid - deployment force . However , the role for the CF - 5 throughout its service with the RCAF was changed frequently and eventually , the diminutive fighter would serve as a light attack strike fighter , reconnaissance platform and trainer . The Canadian version had several modifications to make it more suitable to operating in Canadian Forces theaters of operations . In order to address complaints about long take - off runs , the Canadair version featured a two - position nose landing gear ; compressed it operated like the original , but extended ( before takeoff ) it raised the nose and thereby increased the angle of attack and increased lift . The system reduced takeoff distance by almost 20 % . A mid - air refueling probe was installed , Orenda built General Electric J85 - 15 engines with 4 , 300 lbf ( 19 kN ) thrust were used , and a more sophisticated navigation system was added . The nose of the CF - 5 was also interchangeable with a specially designed reconnaissance set with four cameras in it . Over the course of its life , it received many upgrades to its avionics and capabilities . Operational history . Initially 433 Squadron and 434 Squadron were the only two squadrons to operate the CF - 5 . It was intended that three squadrons would fly the aircraft , but due to budgetary restrictions , the excess aircraft were put into storage in CFB North Bay and CFB Trenton , some later being sold to other countries . 434 squadron was assigned to do lead - in tactical fighter training for the CF - 104 , but was transitioned to the role of a rapid reaction squadron , being ready to deploy to Europe at short notice in the event of hostilities . The squadron moved to CFB Bagotville with 433 squadron , for a short time , and then on to CFB Chatham . The training role was adopted by 419 Squadron in CFB Cold Lake ; it would continue to provide jet training , dissimilar air combat training ( wearing quasi - Soviet " aggressor " paint schemes similar to USAF , USN and USMC F - 5Es ) , and serve as a lead - in fighter trainer for the CF - 18 until the aircraft was retired in 1995 . All remaining airframes were put into storage at CFD Mountain View .