F-5EM

[Spey_Phantom]

This model represents what the F-5E would look like if luxemburg had an air force.

As the war on terror progresses, and further cuts in the Belgian Defence budget, Luxemburg decided to start an air force of its own. in 2000, the "Grand Duke Of Luxemburg Air Force" was formed. most of the equipment was second hand bought and donated from various countries.12 Allouette II helicopters from Belgium, 4 EC-135's new from germany and 2 ex-luftwaffe C-160's. The mainstay of the attack force were 5 Multirole F-5E bought from saudi stocks. they were all upgraded in Belgium by SABCA to MLU standard, witch include new radar, new avionics and weapon systems. and started service in 2002.

The model is equiped as it was in 2002 after the MLU upgrade. with an IRST under the nose (à la F-101), adn is armed with 2 IRIS-T, 2 Aspide AAM's, 4 cluster bombs and under the fuselage, an ALQ-131 jamming pod.

(sorry about the bad picture quality, it was kinda murky weather outside.

[cthulhu77]

Neat, but take more pics when the weather breaks!

[PolluxDeltaSeven]

Good idea and -as far as I can see- good job!!

But well, I think Luxembourg already's got (quite) an Air Force ...
Of course, it's not as simple: they have no fighters and no cargo too... But they have some relationship with NATO and Belgium Air Force (Composante Aérienne now). But they have a roundel, seeing on the NATO AWACS, and they bought 1 or 2 A4000M for the future european force...

Here is the Luxembourg roundel:

[Brian da Basher]

Damn that's a nice roundel! Wish I could get some decals and fin flashes...

Brian da Basher

[Tophe]

Just a question: above the tiny country that Luxembourg is, would a F-5 had time enough to reach supersonic speed? ^_^  Maybe flying circularly... But why turning so fast round and round?  

[PolluxDeltaSeven]

I think that if Luxembourg had an operational Air Force, the fighters will fly and train over French and Belgium aerial space...
Singaporian fighters are often based in USA and France for example...

A fighter force could be useful in a multinational peace force, flying in the NATO or UN name... For example, those Luxembourg F-5 could be sent in Afghanistan with French Mirage and Nederland and Belgium F-16.

[Tophe]

Dear Pollux, I know you are very right, but the question was not coming from a Serious JMN  but from a smily What-ifer ^_^ . I personally prefer the crazy supersonic flying round and round... Do you know the SuperDahu plane especially designed for that goal? See http://schweinwald.ifrance.com/superdahu.htm (you read French, others may use Alta-Vista Babel Fish translator)...
Similar could have been made on a F-5 plastic basis, with a long wing and a short wing, as explained on my site http://cmeunier.chez-alice.fr/asym_dahu_aeroUK.htm (4th sky-blue silhouette)...
Nils model stands as a right link between JMN's models and completely crazy models, thanks Nils to help the craziest of us reach a little respectability somehow...  

[Patrick H]

Looking good Nils, and I love the story also.



Patrick

[ysi_maniac]

I cannot see any pic 

[chrisonord]

Me neither
Chris.

[Spey_Phantom]

that post is over 4 years old, in that time i changed photo storage from maj.com to photobucket, i'll see if i can fix that, even take new pics if needed 

[Spey_Phantom]

here it is, but i have to say that it has recieved a new paintjob about 1.5 years ago and some of the modifications have been removed.

here is how she looks now 

[ysi_maniac]

Thank you!
Nice model and roundels

[chrisonord]

Very nice Nils,
That looks very nice indeed
Cheers,
Chris.

[anthonyp]

Nice, Nils!  I've got those same roundels on one of my sheets, waiting to be used for something.  This gives me ideas.