The Northrop F-5 is a compact, highly agile fighter jet developed some 60 years ago. The aircraft’s quality is demonstrated by the fact that six decades later it is still in active service in many air forces in both the original F-5A and updated F-5E forms.

This latest book of the ‘Duke Hawkins’ series – number 28 -- features a complete portrait of the F-5E. With 128 pages and over 320 color photos, there is great detail of both in- and outside: every part of the fuselage, wings, landing gear, vertical and horizontal tails. It also contains some high-quality and spectacular action photographs from aircraft in service with the US Navy, US Marines, Swiss AF, Taiwan and Brazil. There is also coverage of the Iranian Sa'eqeh, which is an F-5 modified with twin vertical tails.

​A large chapter in this book is dedicated to the F-5E and F-5F cockpits, showing every detail of the front and back. Another nice feature is the extensive coverage of the cannon bays. At the back of this book is a 40-page chapter on the earlier F-5A/B Freedom Fighter - in this case the Spanish AM/BM versions.

​As with every ‘Duke Hawkins’ book, an extensive maintenance chapter is included, showing some rarely seen details. There is also a chapter on the original and new US16J ejection seats.

The authors do a fine job bringing together the photos, but their English does leave a little to be desired in places. it might pay to have someone proofread their work.

All in all, it is an extremely useful book for anyone contemplating building a model of the F-5E. It is also a lovely book for the aviation enthusiast. Highly recommended.

My thanks to HMH Publications and Casemate Publishers for supplying the review sample.