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F-105F Thunderchief, USAF
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Photography by Action Asia Photo |
The Republic F-105 Thunderchief was conceived in the 1950s as a nuclear strike aircraft with the intention of replacing the earlier F-84F Thunderstreak. Though initially designed to deliver only nuclear payloads in an internal bomb bay, it achieved fame in the Vietnam War as the "Thud" while operating as a conventional strike and "defense suppression" aircraft. The first F105-B was delivered to the Tactical Air Force Command in August of 1958. Numerous problems with the designation resulted in the production of the F-105D with first deliveries beginning in early 1961. The F-105D was an "all-weather" aircraft whose nose was stretched 1' 4" to accommodate the "Thunderstick" system that gave low-level terrain-following capability. The armament and weapon load was the same as the F-105B, but a stronger engine allowed for the entire 12,000 pound load to be carried externally. The F-105D could also carry 4 Sidewinder Air-to-Air or 4 Bullpup Air-to-Surface missiles. The F-105F was the fully combat-capable dual cockpit version that had the fuselage stretched 31 inches and sported a taller vertical tail plane. Equipped with dual flight controls and dual in-flight refueling capability, the F-105F was intended mostly to introduce new pilots to the aircraft's complicated electronic systems as the back seat had too poor a view to make it a useful flight trainer. The F-105 was instrumental in the Vietnam War and flew 75% of the air strikes against North Vietnam - often filling in for the strategic bombing role usually done by B-52s because the USAF was hesitant to risk the larger aircraft to the increasingly more sophisticated enemy anti-aircraft defenses. F-105 losses were high and led to converting 86 F-105Fs into F-105 Wild Weasels that had jamming gear which was operated by the rear crew member. By 1975 fifty-six Wild Weasel F-105Fs were updated to an improved "Wild Weasel III" configuration with the designation of F-105G. These aircraft featured jammer pods that were faired into the forward fuselage and so freed up the underwing pylons for other stores. In all 833 F-105s of all types were built. The Thunderchief was succeeded by the McDonnell F-4 Phantom which had been chosen to carry on the role of attack aircraft. Crew:
Two
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