Inspired by someone else mentioning it on this or another forum, here's a bit of history to tide me over before I get a kit (or two) to build the RAAF F-5! Simple concept: the RAAF chose the F-5 over the Mirage, didn't lose as many to crashes, and actually bought more cos they liked it so much.
Any suggestions welcome :-)
***
The search for a Sabre replacement began in the late 1950s. In 1960, following an evaluation team visit to Europe and North America, the Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter was selected over more expensive types such as the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter and Dassault Mirage III.
The first two aircraft were built as kits in the USA but shipped to Australia for completion, with the first flight at RAAF Point Cook taking place on 14 March 1963. The remaining aircraft were built under license in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation as the CA-29 “Badina”, a Wagiman Aboriginal word meaning “to bite”.
No 2OCU at Williamtown began receiving deliveries in 1964 and CAC went on to complete all 100 single seat Badinas by 1967. These were followed by 24 two-seat trainers, designated CA-29C and serialled A3-101 to A3-124, by 1974.
No 75 Sqn became the first operational unit in 1965 followed by No 76 Sqn in 1966. In 1967 No 75 Sqn deployed to Malaysia and replaced No 3 Sqn who returned to Australia to re-equip with the new fighter. 3 Sqn returned to Butterworth in 1969. No 77 Sqn became the fourth RAAF Badina squadron.
Following pressure on aircraft numbers, a further 25 CA-29Bs (A3-125 to A3-150) were ordered and delivered during 1973 and 1974 fully equipping No 76 Sqn and dispersing the higher-houred machines among the remaining three squadrons, now operating at RAAF Williamtown and RMAF Butterworth.
In 1983 No 75 Sqn relocated from Butterworth to Darwin as part of plan bolster the defence of northern Australia and in March 1986 No 79 Sqn reformed at Butterworth when No 3 Sqn was returned once again to Australia to re-equip with the F/A-18 Hornet. No 79 Sqn operated the Badina until 1988 when the aircraft was finally withdrawn from Australian service. The 70 surviving aircraft were eventually sold to Pakistan in 1990.
The Badina was in service longer than any other RAAF fighter and those who flew the aircraft held it in high regard and still speak fondly of their experiences.
(from the Fighterworld website
http://www.fighterworld.com.au/az-of-fighter-aircraft/series-3)
***
Two distinct versions of the Badina were produced, the original CA-29A (a pure fighter version serialled A3-1 to A3-50 inclusive and originally left in the bare metal finish but later painted silver due to corrosion problems) and the CA-29B (a ground attack variant, serials A3-50 to A3-100).
Also delivered were 24 CA-29C two-seat trainers, based on the F-5B but with wingtip fuel tanks permanently affixed.
With two exceptions all surviving A models were upgraded to B from June 1969 - the exceptions being A3-2 (which remained with ARDU for the duration and had many trials modifications not fitted to the rest of the fleet) and A3-26 (which remained at Fisherman’s Bend for the first three years of its life as a test bed for the update).
The introduction of a ground attack capability in the B model saw the aircraft fleet painted in a camouflage scheme of dark green / grey overall, this was later followed by a lighter shade of green / grey with a light grey underside.
Due to high airframe hours on some aircraft 25 additional CA-29Bs (serialled A3-125 to A3-150 inclusive) were ordered in 1973, these being delivered with the CA-29C trainers before the end of 1974.
The last camouflage variant saw them painted a light blue grey overall. To distinguish friend or foe during air to air combat training some aircraft also had a wide band of yellow or orange paint applied on the upper wing surfaces.
The various operational squadrons and their locations were as follows;
75 Sqn Williamtown, NSW 08/65-04/67
75 Sqn Butterworth, Malaysia 05/67-08/83
75 Sqn Darwin, NT 08/83-09/88
76 Sqn Williamtown, NSW 09/66-08/88
3 Sqn Williamtown, NSW 07/67-02/69
3 Sqn Butterworth, Malaysia 02/69-03/86
77 Sqn Williamtown, NSW 02/69-07/87
79 Sqn Butterworth, Malaysia 03/86-04/88
In addition No2 OCU was based at Williamtown, NSW and the ARDU at Laverton, Vic then Edinburgh, SA, both receiving a number of Badinas for training and research respectively.
75 Sqn returned to Darwin in 1983 to provide a fighter defence for the top end whilst the Hornet Sqns became operational, it absorbed some of the 3 Sqn’s Badinas, ending up with 21 CA-29Bs and 4 CA-29Cs . 79 Sqn had been reformed at Butterworth to absorb the remnants of 3 Sqn’s aircraft and to provide a presence in the area when 3 Sqn returned to Australia to re equip with Hornets in 1986, 77 Sqn still at Williamtown eventually got all the rest of the aircraft including 2OCU’s, in fact taking over that unit’s role of pilot conversion whilst 2OCU changed to Hornets. The eventual strength of 77 Sqn on retirement was some 40 Badinas (plus 16 Macchis) and 76 Sqn with 34 of the type.
(Amended from the original history by Rod Farquhar posted at
http://www.adf-serials.com.au/3a3.htm)