F-20 TigerShark | should have been built 

Unfortunate that politics killed it, would have been a beast! great work as always!

I flew the F-5 extensively in an aggressor role. Based on that experience, I would call the F-20 a very capable airframe that could find a place even on today's battlefields. Additionally, I don't think a handsomer jet fighter has ever been built.

F-5 and F-20 are also among the most beautiful aircraft ever built!

The F-20 would’ve been great today for point-defense, homeland security missions that doesn’t require stealth. Like the YF-23, Northrop Grumman have this habit of developing outstanding fighters, yet lack the lobbyist ground support to get them into production.

I saw the F-20 Tigershark perform and I was blown away by its ability to turn on a dime and accelerate like lightning!!!...

Don't remind me. I remember being extremely disappointed when the F20 was cancelled. I was a huge fan of this jet

No matter how many times I watch these videos about the F5 and the F20 I never get tired of them. I just love the F5 series of fighter jets. I hope that they could be modernized and brought back to service.

My dad worked for Northrop towards the tail end of the Tigershark's life. I remember going to a family picnic at Northrop when I was like 9. They had a video presentation of the Tigershark blowing stuff up. I became a huge fan of this jet. Then it was gone.

You made this video 2 years ago today. I was a Controller at El Toro and we had the F-20 TigerShark at our Airshow. It was amazing.

I remember that at that time Grumman offered PAF to select F-20 instead of F-16 and in return complete production line of F-20 would be shifted to Pakistan. But PAF selected F-16 as USAF was in favor of F-16. In 1986 China signed an agreement with Grumman to modernize its fleet of J-7 fighters under the so-called "Super-7" upgrade, but this agreement was cancelled in early 1990, in the wake of political relations with the West, but by that time engineering blue prints of F-20 were shared with Chengdu Aircraft Corporation [CAC]. That's why JF-17 air frame is much similar to F-20, while engine and avionics are based on what ever is available in the market at the moment.

This looks strikingly similar to the MIG-28 ;)

Based on the operational history of the F16, it’s hard to argue that the US picked the wrong plane.

The F-20 holds a rare distinction: it is one of the only fighter aircraft capable of inducing instantaneous G-lock - a phenomenon we still don't fully understand. No doubt that played a factor in the loss of the 2 F-20s.

Even Chuck Yeager himself flew it and spoke really nice about it.

Watched the F-5 series & F-20 videos today, great job! I learned stuff I never knew, like the delta wing F-5, & other early proposals. Thank you.

Like many Northrop planes F20 was a beautyful plane.

Hell, yeah, I would love to see the promo video in its entirety. Thanks for this short but cool little documentary on this excellent fighter that should have been. And you just made a new subscriber.

awesome !! Thanks for the F-20 rundown - too bad this was never produced for ourselves and/or exported. Yes - the full promo video would be great !!

THIS​ Tigershark​'S​ dream​ can'​t cometrue, BUT​ i​ think This​ guy​ must AWSOME.

Best all around fighter ever built. I remember following the testing of this aircraft in the 80's. I so wanted to see it go into production.

Saw one of the last flight demonstrations of the F-20 at China Lake in 1985. Went on to work on F-5 E/F at VA-127 NASF. Beautiful airframe.

This is easily the best video about the F-20 on all yt, good job. My country's air force considered to buy 18 of this jets to compliment the existing 12 F-5's, but sadly an earthquake hit México City in 1985 and the plan was cancelled. Anyways, awesome video, keep the good job man! 🙂

Always had a lot of love for the F-20. Gorgeous looking plane

Really interesting video man, thank you so much for your up-load. Looking forwards to the Typhoon. Go safe, stay cool.

This was the Mig-21 of the 80s. Decent capability, incredibly cheap to run. Its genuinely unbelievable nobody bought it, but I guess back then they didn't really factor in running costs as much as they should have.

Jimmy the peanut farmer hated Taiwan. He was the one that pulled American Embassy in Taipei out in 1979. Taiwan had F-5E and F-5F as main stable fighter against Chines PLAAF. MiG 21 was their most advanced fighter. Most incursion occurred was their more outdated Mig 19. F-5E was more than adequate. Taiwan and Northrop had cooperated and for many years. Taiwanese was more than willing to take F5G. Chuck Yeager was the legend that endorsed the F20. It’s a shame that USAF passed on it. Taiwan was prevented from buying it. Most fighter pilots were trained on T38. Guess what, very similar air frame, built by Northrop.

So many of us love this aircraft. I still remember hearing about those crashes as an 11 year old. There was one article that said something about the low wing design was more difficult for weapons loading and maintenance access than the higher wing style of the F-16 and F-18. This was allegedly a factor with potential buyers. There was no automatic canopy either. In any case, this aircraft seems to have an almost cult like following. A very aestetically beautiful aircraft for sure. I still have the promotional color brochures about this plane from the 84 time period somewhere in a box. Thank you for this documentary.

A resurrected F-20 with modern and improved avionics and miniaturized tech would be a beast of a machine today!

The F20 was engine start and gear up in less than 2 minutes. When minutes do make a difference after enemy radar contact, no aircraft I know of can be in the air and in the fight sooner.

The reason why F20 was never bought by the USAF was because no matter how good it was, the USAF is averse to low cost "light" fighters. F16 is an exception as it introduced bleeding edge technology and huge potential for growth

Definitely a missed opportunity. Even Brig. General Chuck Yeager liked this aircraft.

I remember as a kid in the 80s reading an article about the F20 and the fact that this aircraft is also offered to our air force even demonstrated as well here in Indonesia (part of a procurement program test in the mid 80s alongside Mirage 2000, Panavia Tornado and F-16) but alas our air force went to select the F-16 instead. 🥺

My favorite fighter that never was; I had the privilege to visit Northrup assembly line in LA, circa 1981. It was amazing to see the large autoclaves for making composite panels and wings, ,and the tooling, advanced for that time. It was a real shame, as this may have beaten the F16 in nearly every category, specially performance vs cost of maintenance.

I still have a F20 promo photo from Northrop that I requested from their PR dept back in the mid 80s. Absolutely beautiful aircraft.

Great Video. Pity the F-20 never found the market it deserved, looks like it was a beast and a very capable fighter.

I know here in Canada we will be looking for a new fighter and the F-20 would be interesting to see in the running for the contract. It would most likely be up against the F-35, F/A-18E, Grippen or maybe even the Typhoon. But with its lower cost could stand a chance with the right modern upgrades. #MakeTheF20GreatAgain

Great vídeo! Truly a beatiful machine, and missed opportunity . Still, I belief there is a chance, the Grippen, the JF-17 are a proof.

One of my favorite planes. It's unheralded and deserves more attention. 🏆

Currently there are 2 fighters that share this concept and engine, the jas-39 grippen and KAI T/FA-50. Both share the same single engine, low cost to operate, supersonic and can be equipped with BVR missles and smartbombs

Yes, the f20 would be a great option for many of our allies. What a wonderful aircraft, and with 21st century upgrades she'd be as lethal as she is beautiful.

Both the F5 and F20 are beautiful. I remembered there was another aircraft the X29 which is also similar to the F20 except for the wings.

The F-20 Tiger Shark is by far my favorite fighter jet of all time. It really should have been produced and sold worldwide. No doubt it would probably still be in service today.

I seem to recall that when Canada was shopping for its next fighter, the F-20 was considered, but they instead went with the F-18 Hornet. This was so, even though the F-20 had all of its cost and simplicity advantages, plus a range, that if memory serves, was double the F-18's. Which is crazy because if you're trying to police a country the size of Canada, one of your prime considerations is range.

Don't be sad. F-20 still live and it has inherited it's DNA. To JAS GRIPEN (The engine at least)

Considering the F5 is sought after today as it costs far less to fly, it was a huge mistake of the Carter Administration.

Great video. Thanks for posting

I saw this plane at the Farnborough airshow many years ago. Absolutely awesome!

After going through this video, I strongly feel that the F - 20 was a missed opportunity. Yes, I would like to go through the entire promo video of this fine aircraft. Thanks ...

I know that nobody will believe me but I witnessed the second crash. I was 13 years old and living on the military base at Goose Bay, Labrador. My friends and I were waiting for the bus that morning when we saw the F20 performing aerobatic maneuvers. We didn't pay much attention because we were used to seeing fighter planes in the sky overhead. Then all of a sudden off in the distance we heard a loud and dull thud and a huge plume of black smoke... Also, does anyone else remember the AC/Delco commercial Chuck Yeager did with the Tigershark in the background?

Is love to see the F-20 and F-16 go at it.

The F-16 and the F-5 are 2 of my all time favourite fighters particularly because of their shape. When it was released, I discovered that the F-20 was the new improved version of the F-5 and I was instantly hooked. I have always wondered what could have been. I would have loved to see a dogfight between the F-16 and the F-20.

Yeah man Sounds like a great aircraft

Cool Video like usually.

I followed the development of the tiger shark in Aviation Week and Space Technology magazine. While Serving aboard the USS Ranger CV-61. Few were as disappointed as I was, with the end of the program. You left out the ruthless tactics used by General Dynamics. To kill one of the best fighters ever made! Your main point is well taken. If ever there was a time for Tiger Shark. That time is today. The latest in composites, super cruise engines as well as advanced avionics are tailor made for an airframe like this. General Dynamics paid a price for its actions so now the F-16 is produced by another company. Northrup deserves cudos and money for producing outstanding performance aircraft. Building better planes, while all too often losing out at the contract table. The F-22 vs the F-23 comes to mind. I think modernized versions of the F-16, F-18, F-20 and F-23 should all be going into mass production. Just as quickly as possible. After all; as the Battle of Britain demonstrated. A nation can never have enough fighters!

Great vid. Would love too see that Northrop vid.

In Chile, where we have 16 F5 Tiger III plus (F5E upgraded by IAI) ... the grey ones with the blue stripe in the tail in the video.... we love them, despite our main fleet is F16 block 50/52+....

Such a great looking and performing little jet, such bad luck it wasn't used!

Thanks so much for this beautiful videos 👍👍👍👌👌👌

Chuck Yeager loved the F20

I have the feeling that in a guns only WVR dogfights between two equally skilled and experienced combat pilots, the F-20 still has a good chance coming out as the winner even when the opponent pilot is flying the latest Gen 4++, Gen 4.5, or Gen 5 fighter.

The F-20's legacy is ............ The Saab Gripen

I was just a kid during this time but my uncle worked at Northrup and gave my brother and I F20 Tigershark promotional T-shirts in the early 1980s

Bro, this channel 8s awesome.

God I love this channel! It’s awesome!

I even remember a Pepsi commercial back then that featured Chuck Yeager talking a drink and then the next showed him taking off vertical in an F-20.

The F5 and F20, are my favorite to fly on any fighter jet game I have ever played if the game featured at least one of them, that passion began with Ace Combat 5 Belkan Wars. 💜

This is my all time favorite family ot fighters..the Northrop Midgit forever in my heart..

2:35 A squadron of Chilean F-5s taking off from Carrasco airport, Montevideo, Uruguay. Then the same squadron is seen in flight. Fantastic combat aircraft, still serving in Brazil, Mexico and Chile, among others.

I just wanted to say the F 5, F 20 also the T 38 were the best planes of there time. I see from the amount of comments I'm not alone!

great video

As a kid, I remember TV ads with Chuck Yeager flying it.

Indeed it was regrettable that the F-20 wasn't adopted by any country, it would have been a valuable upgrade to the Brazilian and Indonesian air forces, among others, that have never purchased the F-16. The F-20 demise was the US government lack of vision and its philosophy that the more expensive is always the better. I've purchased a "what if" kit version of the F-20 that I plan to paint in the Brazilian air force colors.

Great plane, and the success of the current Jas39 Gripen shows that there was plenty of space for such a small and economic but capable plane.

Gorgeous Aircraft.

Looks badass

The F-20 was the best fighter never used, now that fighter is the YF-23

I truly believe this was a better fighter then the F-16. This thing was way ahead of it's time.

This clearly shows simplicity is best.

Love that plane!

I was a big fan of this plane in the 80’s. Too bad it never went into production.

Damn if that wasn't the sleekest, sexiest, deadliest looking fighter of all time!

Too nice video about Tiger 🐅🦈shark 💪💪thanks

This brings back memories. i get to see a strange sounding but seemingly similar plane taking off and landing from my grandparent house. Turns out it was a F-20 demo team. I also had an F-20 plastic model, of which i procure after F-5. iI do not regret the fact that our military opt to have F-16 though

The F-20 is one of those aircraft that was an engineering marvel lucked out by eternal factors (politics). Sometimes building an excellent fighter isn't enough as history has shown. In saying that some of the most successful aircraft in history have follows the philosophy of the Tiger family of fighters. The A4 Skyhawk, not the fastest, high tech or hard hitting, but a cheap and effective workhorse for many militaries.

The F-20 Tigershark is now known as the JF-17 Thunder.

BTW excellent video as always! 🎊🎉🐺

I subscribed the instant I saw the thumbnail. I read a book (fictional)years ago on the tigershark. Looking forward to seeing more of your videos.

Yet another excellent video, Thanks! A few thoughts: Not only the JF-17 is - in a sense - an iteration of the F-20 concept. Also JAS-39A/B/C/D and finally the E-variant of Gripen. The aircraft may not look similar due to the delta canard configuration, but the radical emphasis on low operating cost, excellent performance, extensive use of composite materials, datalink and state of the art sensors is what you have to look for. Sadly, the Korean T-50 - with the aid of Lockheed Martin) is also an iteration of the same concept. And they al share the same lineage of engines: the GE F-404 and its more powerful cousin the GE F-414. US industry and US forces seem to have little regard for operating cost. For industry low maintenance means less spareparts to sell and thus dwindling profits. And for the air forces - which, according to a renowned professor in political science, Niskanen - are just like bureaucrats, set to maximizing their budgets - lower cost means smaller budgets. The higher you climb in military hierarchy, the more you are forced to think as a bureaucrat and less as a fighting soldier. The F-35 being a prime example: it's a political/bureaucratic aircraft in a way, as its manufacturing is spread around the country (and globe) to ensure political support. The reports of the Director OT&E (dr. Gilmore) and US GAO were condemning of the programme decades in a row, yet no one dared to kill the programme. That is the US MIC at work, against which Eisenhower warned. Not that the F-35 is a lousy aircraft, but it has been poorly managed, government oversight has collapsed and the costs have spiraled.

Politics killed it... I love the F-16 but this was clearly a direct challenge to the Falcon both in performance and operating costs...too bad. Nice videos keep it up!

Was stationed in Korea when the F20 crashed...Beautiful plane!

It's Chuck Yeager! The Chuck Yeager!

Damn shame! That’s all i can say. . . Thanks jimmy.

I'm building a 1:144 scale model of the Tigershark. The video helps me with the detailing. Thanks.

This is a fighter for the time of long war!

one of the finest. agility is awesome. and there is a littlebit tecnhic also but it still is the pilot who flies.

Whenever I see the F-20, I imagine a squadron of them in USAF Thunderbirds livery. That would have been awesome. Just imagine a couple of them on sneak passes... fast and loud! Great video!

It would have been a very effective and efficient Fighter for the US Military and our military lost out because it wasn't adopted f-16s are great fighter but it's not as economical is the F20 was I would have liked very much to see it fly in our air forces and see its progress and development over the years . Northrop has always built very very good aircraft

Iconic at best

I simply want it to be produced because it looks so awesomely cool.

I read an article in The New Republic about the F-20 a long time ago. One drawback it mentioned was that the F-20 didn't have the range of the F-16. Maybe they could have built a few hundred F-20's to take care of the nearby targets. It said in that article that we should produce around 800 F-20's for our own market and for the export market. It said that the original idea for the F-20 was to give developing nations the chance to acquire a top of the line fighter for not much money. To be honest, I think the reason there wasn't much demand for the F-20 was similar to why people want hot sports cars. They don't want economical, they want the best, and the F-20 couldn't escape its identity as being second to the F-16. I guess the F-20 is still a workable idea. If we built a couple of thousand of them for our own need and for the export market we could get a lot of capability for not much money. The military doesn't do enough of that. If the U.S. had a good number of F-20's in its arsenal it might escape the identity of being second best.