An ex-VNAF F-5E seen next to a MiG-17 at Noi Bai air base. Reportedly, some complete F-5E airframes and a good supply of parts and engines were sold by the Vietnamese government to Iran in the 80s and 90s. The Iranian air force had and still has a substantial fleet of F-5Es operational. The U.S. embargo on arm sales to Iran meant they had to look for other sources. Ironically, some of these F-5Es were supplied to the VNAF by Iran in the first place. (photo: I. Toperczer)