https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_F-105_Thunderchief
The Republic F-105 Thunderchief was a supersonic fighter-bomber used by the
United States Air Force. The Mach 2 capable F-105 conducted the majority of
strike bombing missions during the early years of the Vietnam War; it was the
only U.S. aircraft to have been removed from combat due to high loss rates.[2]
Originally designed as a single-seat, nuclear-attack aircraft, a two-seat Wild
Weasel version was later developed for the specialized Suppression of Enemy Air
Defenses (SEAD) role against surface-to-air missile sites. The F-105 was
commonly known as the "Thud" by its crews.
As a follow-on to the Mach 1 capable North American F-100 Super Sabre, the F-105
was also armed with missiles and a cannon; however, its design was tailored to
high-speed low-altitude penetration carrying a single nuclear weapon internally.
First flown in 1955, the Thunderchief entered service in 1958. The F-105 could
deliver a greater bomb load than some American heavy bombers of World War II
such as the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator. The
F-105 was one of the primary attack aircraft of the Vietnam War; over 20,000
Thunderchief sorties were flown, with 382 aircraft lost including 62 operational
(non-combat) losses (out of the 833 produced). Although less agile than smaller
MiG fighters, USAF F-105s were credited with 27.5 kills.
The Thunderchief was the largest single-seat, single-engine combat aircraft in
history, weighing approximately 50,000 pounds (23,000 kg). It could exceed the
speed of sound at sea level and reach Mach 2 at high altitude; the F-105 could
carry up to 14,000 lb (6,400 kg) of bombs and missiles. The Thunderchief was
later replaced as a strike aircraft over North Vietnam by both the McDonnell
Douglas F-4 Phantom II and the swing-wing General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark.
However, the "Wild Weasel" variants of the F-105 remained in service until 1984
after being replaced by the specialized F-4G "Wild Weasel V".
Role
Fighter-bomber
National origin
United States
Manufacturer
Republic Aviation
First flight
22 October 1955
Introduction
27 May 1958
Retired
25 February 1984
Primary user
United States Air Force
Produced
Number built
833
Unit cost
US$2.14 million (F-105D, in 1960 dollars)
Former North American F-86 Sabre pilot Jerry Noel Hoblit recalled being in awe
of the F-105's size after seeing it for the first time; he could not manage to
reach the air intake lip even with a running jump. The F-105 had a spacious
cockpit with good visibility and layout (particularly after introduction of
"tape" instruments); the advanced electronics were easy to learn and operate.
Takeoffs and landings were often performed in the 230 mph (370 km/h) range.
The aircraft's offensive capabilities were sarcastically referred to as a
aspects, such as the F-105's responsive controls, strong performance at high
speed and low altitude, and its outfit of electronics won over some pilots.
On 3 April 1965, a total of 79 aircraft, including 45 F-105 Thunderchiefs, were
sent against the Thanh Hoa Bridge, nicknamed "Dragon's Jaw". The next day, enemy
MiGs were encountered during a second run upon the bridge; a total of eight
MiG-17s faced 46 F-105s escorted by a MiGCAP flight of 21 F-100 Super Sabres.
The MiG-17s evaded the escorts using altitude and cloud cover, instead focusing
upon the bomb-laden Thunderchiefs. Two Thunderchiefs were lost to the MiG-17s; a
third, thought to be lost to groundfire, was later claimed by the North as
downed by a MiG-17. An F-100 claimed the only probable MiG-17 kill, although a
Vietnamese pilot believes three of his comrades were shot down by F-105s. One
F-105 piloted narrowly escaped. USAF Chief of Staff General John P. McConnell
was "hopping mad" to hear that two F-105s had been shot down by Korean War-era
subsonic North Vietnamese MiGs. The Thanh Hoa Bridge proved resistant to aerial
bombing, multiple missions were flown to damage the bridge both by F-105s and
U.S. Navy aircraft.
In December 1966, the VPAF's MiG-21 pilots of the 921st regiment downed 14
F-105s without any losses.
Specifications (F-105D)
General characteristics
Crew: 1 (2 for F-105C/E/F/G variants)
Payload: 14,000 lb (6,700 kg) of weapons
Length: 64 ft 4.75 in (19.63 m)
Wingspan: 34 ft 11.25 in (10.65 m)
Height: 19 ft 8 in (5.99 m)
Airfoil: NACA 65A005.5 root, NACA 65A003.7 tip
Empty weight: 27,500 lb (12,470 kg)
Loaded weight: 35,637 lb (16,165 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 52,546 lb (23,834 kg)
14,300 Ibf (63,74kN)
Thrust with afterburner: 24,500 Ibf (109 kN)
Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0173
Aspect ratio: 3.16
Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 2.08 (1,372 mph, 2,208 km/h) at 36,000 ft (11,000 m)
Combat radius: 780 mi (680 nmi, 1,250 km)
Ferry range: 2,210 mi (1,920 nmi, 3,550 km)
Service ceiling: 48,500 ft (14,800 m)
Rate of climb: 38,500 ft/min (195 m/s)
Thrust/weight: 0.74
Lift-to-drag ratio: 10.4
Time to altitude: 1.7 min to 35,000 ft (11,000 m)
Armament
internal bomb bay with a capacity of Up to 14,000 lb (6,400 kg) of ordnance,
including conventional and nuclear bombs, and AIM-9 Sidewinder and AGM-12
Bullpup missiles.
Avionics
NASARR R-14A radar
AN/ASG-19 Thunderstick fire control system
AN/ARN-85 LORAN (AN/ARN-92 in Thunderstick II-modified aircraft)
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