A Royal Thai Air Force F-5F Tiger II fighter crashed at around 11:00 local time (01:00 GMT) on Friday (03)
The aircraft belonged to the 211 Fighter Squadron and was performing a tactical flight at the Chai Badan Training Stand, in Lopburi Province, central region of the country. The pilot ejected, but ended up breaking a leg and an arm. The aviator is currently at the Bhumibol Adulyadej hospital.
https://youtu.be/zyoGbq0k9-4
Deputy Air Marshal Praphas Sonjaidee, spokesman for the RTAF, said the F-5F that crashed today was the first modernized in the Super Tigris Programme. Despite being a two-seat model, only one soldier was on board the fighter. Praphas also said that the plane had 6700 flight hours.
At the moment, rescue teams are still searching for more wreckage from the F-5F. The official adds that the aircraft was carrying an inert training bomb and that the accident is already under investigation.
Pilot seriously injured in F-5 fighter jet crash in Lop Buri – more at https://t.co/n02GkyjqAa #Thailand
Warning: Some may find the photos below disturbing.An F-5 fighter jet crashed during training in the Chai Badan area of Central Thailand's Lop Buri province today morn… pic.twitter.com/kdlrV0eVIW
— The Thaiger (@ThaigerNews) December 3, 2021
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Thailand has completed the process of modernizing 30 F-5E and six F-5F fighters to the Super Tigris standard. Similar to the upgrade performed on Brazilian Air Force F-5M, works are conducted by Elbit Systems of Israel.
The fighters received the Grifo-F radar, integration with IRIS-T missiles, glass cockpit, HMD DASH IV and other important improvements. The service life of the F-5 was also extended to 9600 flight hours. After modernization, the Super Tigris receive the designation F-5TH and F-5THF.
In addition to the F-5s, the RTAF has 13 JAS-39C/D Gripen, 38 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon and 18 Alpha Jets.
