Historical:

The Northrop F-5A and F-5B Freedom Fighter and the F-5E and F-5F Tiger II are part of a supersonic light fighter family, initially designed in the late 1950s by Northrop Corporation. Being smaller and simpler than contemporaries such as the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, the F-5 cost less to both procure and operate, making it a popular export aircraft. The F-5 started life as a privately funded light fighter program by Northrop in the 1950s. The design team wrapped a small, highly aerodynamic fighter around two compact and high-thrust General Electric J85 engines, focusing on performance and low cost of maintenance. Though primarily designed for the day air superiority role, the aircraft is also a capable ground-attack platform. The F-5A entered service in the early 1960s. During the Cold War, over 800 were produced through 1972 for U.S. allies. Though the USAF had no acknowledged need for a light fighter, it did procure roughly 1,200 Northrop T-38 Talon trainer aircraft, which were directly based on the F-5A. In 2004 twelve Swiss Air Force F-5Es were leased to Austria for four years while they waited for the new Euro Fighters. F-5E J-3038 was one of the twelve aircraft and continued to fly with the Austrian AF as J-3038. On June 30, 2008 the leased aircraft were returned to the Swiss AF and once again J-3038 was Swiss. In 2013 J03038 was given a special paint scheme to honor Staffel 19 “Swans” 75th Anniversary of its formation on January 1, 1938.

Info: F-5E Tiger II Swiss Air Force 19 Staffel, #J-3038, Switzerland, Squadron 75th Anniversary 2017