The Canadair CF-5 (officially designated the CF-116 Freedom Fighter) is a Canadian licensed-built Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter. It is a light, supersonic, twin engine, daylight air superiority fighter primarily for the Canadian Forces (as the CF-5) and the Royal Netherlands Air Force (as the NF-5). The CF-5 was upgraded periodically throughout its service life in Canada. While Canadian Forces retired the aircraft in 1995, it continues to be used by other countries. 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. Production by Canadair for the Canadian Forces was 89 single-seat aircraft, 46 dual-seat aircraft and 75 single-seat with 30 dual-seat aircraft for the Royal Netherlands Air Force, a total production of 240. Twenty surplus Canadian aircraft were sold to Venezuela.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale rendition of a Royal Canadian Air Force Northrop CF-116C Freedom fighter that was attached to the 434 "Bluenose" Squadron, then deployed to CFB Cold Lake, Canada, during 1979. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 7-3/4-inches
Length: 4-1/2-inches

Release Date: July 2025

Historical Account: "Bluenose" - 434 "Bluenose" Squadron was reformed flying the Canadair Sabre and stationed as part of 3 Wing at RCAF Station Zweibrucken, West Germany on March 7th, 1953, but was stood down on June 16th, 1962. It was re-activated on April 8th, 1963, as a Canadair CF-104 Starfighter unit in the strike/attack role and disbanded again on March 1st, 1967.

434 Operational Training Squadron formed at CFB Cold Lake as the Canadair CF-5 operational training unit on February 15th, 1968. The squadron later gave up OTU duties to 419 Squadron and became an operational squadron, moving to CFB Bagotville on July 15th, 1982, later to CFB Chatham in July 1985.

The unit became 434 Composite Squadron and reformed at CFB Shearwater on July 4th, 1992. The name was changed to 434 Combat Support Squadron and the unit moved to CFB Greenwood in mid-1995, flying the CC-144 Challenger and Canadair CT-133 Silver Star in the electronic warfare role. The squadron was finally disbanded there in May 2000.

The squadron was reactivated in May 2018 at CFB Trenton as a test and evaluation unit.