This week in Edwards history Published Sept. 28, 2017 By 412th Test Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- On Sept. 25, 1974, Northrop’s F-5F made its first flight, piloted by Hank Chouteau. The F-5F was the two-seat trainer version of the company’s F-5E Tiger II and featured a completely new fuselage.