F 105d Thunderchief - The Republic F-105 Thunderchief is an American supersonic bomber that served with the United States Air Force from 1958 to 1984. Capable of Mach 2, it carried out most of the attack bombing missions in the early years of the Vietnam War; It was the only American aircraft withdrawn from combat due to high casualty rates.

It was originally designed as a single-seat, nuclear attack aircraft; A two-seat version of the Kois Fian was later developed for the Special Aim Air Defense Suppression (SEAD) role against surface-to-air missile sites. The F-105 was nicknamed "Thud" by its crew.

F 105d Thunderchief

F 105d Thunderchief

As a continuation of the Mach 1 capable North American F-100 Super Sabre, the F-105 was also equipped with missiles and a rotary cannon; However, its design was optimized for a low-altitude, high-speed pet that carried a nuclear warhead internally. First flown in 1955, the Thunderchief ceased service in 1958. The single-engine F-105 could carry more bombs than some of the American heavy bombers of World War II, such as the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and the Consolidated B-24. . The F-105 was one of the main attack aircraft of the Vietnam War; More than 20,000 Thunder aircraft were flown, and 382 aircraft were lost, including 62 operational (non-combat) losses (833 produced). Although less agile than the smaller MiG fighters, USAF F-105s were credited with 27.5 kills.

F 105 Thunderchief In Action

During the war, the single-seat F-105D was the main aircraft delivering heavy bomb loads against various military targets. Meanwhile, the two-seat versions of the F-105F and F-105G Wild Weasels became the first dedicated SEAD platforms, fighting against the S-75 Dvina (NATO reporting name: Guideline SA-2) surface-to-air missiles. Made in the Soviet Union. the union Two Wild Weasel pilots were awarded the Medal of Honor for attacking North Vietnamese surface-to-air missile sites, and one shot down two MiG-17s on the same day. Dangerous missions often require them to be "first in, last out", to prevent air bearing and strike aircraft from completing their missions and leaving the area.

At around 50,000 pounds (23,000 kg) the Thunderchief was the largest single-engine single-seat fighter in service.

The F-105 can carry up to 14,000 pounds (6,400 kg) of bombs and missiles. The Thunderchief was later replaced by the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II and the Garrel Dynamics F-111 Aardvark as the strike aircraft over North Vietnam. However, the "Wild Weasel" versions of the F-105 remained in service until 1984 when they were replaced by the special F-4G "Wild Weasel V".

Republic Aviation began the Thunderchief as an internal project to replace the Thunderflash RF-84F, which used the prototype's first featured air intake to make room for cameras in the nose section. The design team led by Alexander Kartveli tested several 108 configurations before settling on the big-gen AP-63FBX (Advanced Project 63 Fighter-Bomber, Experimental), specifically the AP-63-31.

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The new aircraft was designed primarily for supersonic, low-altitude refueling to deliver an internally carried nuclear bomb. Emphasis was placed on low altitude speed and flight characteristics, range and payload. The aircraft would be equipped with a large engine, and a relatively short wing with high wing loading for a stable ride at low altitude, and low drag at supersonic speeds.

Indeed enthusiastic, the United States Air Force awarded the Republic a contract for 199 aircraft in September 1952.

However, by March 1953, the USAF had reduced the order to 37 fighter-bombers and nine strategic reconnaissance aircraft, citing the impending Korean War. By the time the F-105 prototype was completed in October 1953, the aircraft had grown to such an extent that the planned Allison J71 turbojet was abandoned in favor of the more powerful Pratt & Whitney J75. Long engine development was anticipated, with the first aircraft expected to use the smaller Pratt & Whitney J57. Near the end of 1953, the USAF canceled the base program due to numerous delays and uncertainties regarding the aircraft. However, on 28 June 1954, the USAF officially ordered 15 F-105s (two YF-105As, four YF-105Bs, six F-105Bs, and three RF-105Bs) under the weapon system designation WS-306A. given

F 105d Thunderchief

The prototype YF-105A first flew on 22 October 1955, followed by the second YF-105A on 28 January 1956.

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Despite being powered by an underpowered J57-P-25 engine with 15,000 pound-force (67 kN) afterburner thrust, the first prototype achieved a speed of Mach 1.2 on its first flight. (The J75 was expected to sustain 24,500 lbf (109 kN) with rear thrust.)

Both aircraft featured assembled wing root air intakes and slab-sided fuselages typical of early aircraft; The Republic viewed the prototypes as representative of the ship's actual capabilities due to the many changes it underwent prior to production.

As a result of insufficient power and aerodynamic problems with transonic drag, as well as Convair's experience with its F-102, the fuselage was redesigned to conform to the area regulation, giving it a "wasp waist" feature. was provided

Along with unique forward sweep variable geometry air intakes that controlled airflow at supersonic speeds and the J75 engine, this redesign enabled the F-105B to reach Mach 2.15.

Republic F 105d Thunderchief Stock Photo

To accomplish the nuclear mission, the MA-8 fire control system, the AN/APG-31 range radar, and the K-19 gun sight were added to drop the bombardment.

Five of the F-105C trainer variants were included in the procurement plan in June 1956, before being canceled in 1957. The RF-105 research version was canceled in July 1956.

In June 1957, Republic Aviation requested that the F-105 be named the Thunderchief, continuing the company's line of Thunder-designated aircraft: the P-47 Thunderbolt, the F-84 Thunderjet, and the F-84F Thunderstreak. The USAF authorized the name a month later.

F 105d Thunderchief

To meet Air Force requirements for all-weather attack, Republic proposed the F-105D version in 1957. This version had a larger nose and a radome that housed the Thunderstick AN/ASG-19 bombardment/navigation system. The AN/ASG-19 was designed around the Autonetics R-14A radar, which operates in air-to-air and air-to-ground modes, and the AN/APN-131 Doppler navigation radar. In the cockpit, the F-105D had vertical tape instrument displays for bad weather operations. The capability to carry a TX-43 nuclear warhead was also added. Development of the RF-105 Research was also resumed, now based on the F-105D. The first D-model flew on 9 June 1959.

Monogram 1/48 F 105d Thunderchief

Plans to build more than 1,500 F-105Ds were cut, and Defense Secretary Robert McNamara decided not to equip more than the save combat wings with the type. In November 1961, production was cut in favor of the Air Force taking over the Navy's F-4 Phantom II.

The last 143 Thunderchiefs built were of the two-seat F-105F trainer version. Based on the F-105D, this model was 31 inches (79 cm) longer to provide space for the rear cockpit; Otherwise, the aircraft had similar flight performance to the previous F-105D.

The F-105 was designed for short nuclear missions, which exposed deficiencies in conventional warfare, such as poor hydraulic layouts and non-self-sealing fuel tanks.

Subsequent upgrades have improved the reliability and weapons capability of existing F-105Ds. In response to the surface-to-air (US) missile threat in the skies over Vietnam, dozens of F-105Fs were converted to "Wild Weasel" anti-radar aircraft, culminating in the F-105G.

Why Pilots Loved The F 105 'thud' Despite Its Vulnerability

The F-105 was a medium-wing monoplane with swept wing surfaces and a 45° swept tail. The single gen was fed through two intakes in the wing roots, leaving the nose free for the multimode radar radome.

The fuselage provided space for 1,184 US gallons (4,480 L) of fuel and an internal bomb bay. The bomb bay measured 15 ft 10 in (4.83 m) by 32 in (0.81 m) by 32 in (0.81 m); It was originally designed to carry a nuclear warhead but usually had an additional 350 US gal (1,300 L) fuel tank.

There were four underwings and a sternline; Both the inboard and sternline wing pylons of the 450 and 650 US. gal (1,700 and 2,500 L) were able to accept fuel from drop tanks. Two dry stations were externally wired for missiles or bombs.

F 105d Thunderchief

An M61 Vulcan (originally designated T-171E3) 20 mm 6-barrel Gatling-style gun was mounted on the left side of the nose. One short-range AIM-9 air-to-air missile can be carried on each outer wing pylon.

Republic F 105 Thunderchief

The F-105 was primarily designed for low level interception and its low altitude speed was its greatest asset when dealing with IMA fighters such as the MiG-17/J-5s.

Based on combat experience, the F-105D was updated with an improved ejection seat, additional armor, improved gun sights, and electronic countermeasures (ECM) pods on the wings.

Former North American F-86 Saber pilot Jerry Noel Hoblitt recalled being surprised by the size of the F-105 after first seeing it; It couldn't reach the air intake lip with a running jump. The F-105 had a large cockpit with good visibility and layout (especially after the introduction of "tape" instruments); Advanced electronics were easy to learn and operate. Takeoffs and landings were often made in the 230 mph (370 km/h) range. The spoilers provided good roll control at all speeds and the four-petal air brakes were unique (which worked a bit when the afterburner was gauged to allow more flow.

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