This F-5E was transferred from the USAF (ex serial 73-0858) to the US Navy in April 1975. It received BuNo 160792. In its adversary role with VFA-127 Cyclones, this specific Tiger II was selected to act as a MiG-28 in the 1986 movie Top Gun. After VFA-127 was disestablished on 23 March 1996, the F-5E was moved to VFC-13. After its military career, the aircraft is preserved at Ryan-Hemet (CA) since late 2010, sadly, not in this nice black MiG-28 colour scheme.

USAF aggressor F-5E 74-1545 (last operated by the 527th TFTAS from RAF Alconbury) was transferred to the US Navy in July 1988. The US Navy overhauled and slightly modified it, reserialled the Tiger II into BuNo 741545 and it became an adversary aircraft. The Cyclones of VFA-127 got the F-5E assigned and after thatb squadron was disestablished on 23 March 1996, the F-5 was transferred to VFC-13 as AF-07. They used it up to late 2008 after which it was withdrawn from use.

This is F-5F 160966 of VFA-127 "Cyclons" was pictured at the ramp homebase NAS Fallon (NV) The adversary squadron was disestablished on 23 March 1996 and most F-5s were transferred to VFC-13. BuNo 160966 is former US Air Force serial 75-0755. By 2005, the forward fuselage of this 160966 was probably used to create Franken F-5F BuNo 761580 (which is in its turn former Swiss AF J-3055). The rear part and wings of 160966 were most probably scrapped.

Collection Ron Damstra

Smart looking F-5 taxis out on a Saturday morning

CYLON F-5E taxis to runway 26

This Skyhawk was possibly stored at the platform of NAS Fallon as it is reported in Navy documents as scrapped in October 1988 (a year before this photo was taken). The modex 13 was already wiped out and another 13 (BuNo 153488/NJ713) was also seen that day.

NJ-(7)03 was seen at Fallon, possibly stored. After VFA-127 used, the former USMC Skyhawk was transferred to the adversaries of VF-126 at NAS Miramar and was coded NJ-626. After VF-126 use, the aircraft was preserved as modex 50 at Miramar from November 1995. The aircraft was eventually returned to Fallon and preserved there as NF-401 in the air power park of Fallon from February 2006.

This great coloured Skyhawk was returned to basic white/orange colours within the Naval Training Command as A-765 with TW-1/VT-7 from February 1992. The Skyhawk went into storage as AMARC as 3A0858 from 9 September 1999.

Stored at AMARC/AMARG with inventorycode 3A0750 from 17 March 1994. The last user of the aircraft was VF-126 as NJ-615 from jun92.

This beauty was once delivered to VC-7 at NAS Miramar and stored in the late seventies at AMARC with inventory code 3A527. The aircraft returned to service via Naval Air Rework Facility (NARF) Pensacola (FL) and assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 127 "Cyclones" at NAS Fallon where it started to fly in this striking colour scheme with code/modex NJ-702. After VFA-127 was disestablished (March 1996) the aircraft moved to NAS Miramar again to operated with Fighter squadron (VF) 126 "Bandits" as NJ-600, NJ-623 VF-126 before it went to AMARC (again) as inventory code 3A0748 in March 1994.

Adversary Skyhawk of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 127 "Cyclons" at homebase Fallon. The squadron ws once established as Attack Squadron (VA) 127 on 15 June 1962 at NAS Lemoore (CA). It was redesignated VFA-127 on 1 March 1987 and eventually disestablished on 23 March 1996.

VFA-127 F/A-18A flying from NAF El Centro in the aggressor role against a couple F-14 squadrons during a FFARP