Northrop F-5E Pre-Buy Checklist
Jet · 23 active
Purchase Price
$1.0M-$4.0M
Prebuy Items
—
ADs
—
Insurance
$23,625
per year (experienced)
Safety Record (NTSB)
Public incident data · 1982-2025
1
Total Incidents
1
Accidents
0
Fatal
43.5
Per 1K Fleet
Raw public data from NTSB. Not a safety grade. Compare with fleet size and hours flown.
Purchase Price by Year
1970-1979
$263K-$506K
1980-1989
$368K-$709K
1990-1999
$525K-$1.0M
2000-2009
$788K-$1.5M
2010-2019
$1.3M-$2.5M
2020-present
$2.6M-$5.1M
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Northrop F-5E cost?
Typical purchase price: $1.0M-$4.0M
What should I check before buying a Northrop F-5E?
Have a qualified A&P mechanic perform a thorough pre-buy inspection of the airframe, engine, avionics, and logbooks.
How much is insurance for a Northrop F-5E?
Experienced pilots: $23,625-$28,875/year.
Are there any known issues with the Northrop F-5E?
Check FAA airworthiness directives and type club resources for known issues.
Cost Summary
Purchase$1.0M-$4.0M
Annual Fixed$45,225/yr
Hourly Variable$1400.00/hr
5-Year Total$1.9M-$5.8M
Engine
ModelGE J85 SER
Power2950 HP
TBO2,400 hrs
Overhaul$360,000-$600,000
Disclaimer
This guide is for informational purposes only. Always hire a qualified A&P mechanic for a professional pre-buy inspection. Data sourced from FAA records and industry benchmarks.