F-105 Thunderchief

Republic F-105 Thunderchief
Description
Role	Single-seat fighter-bomber
Crew	1 (F-105F: 2)
First Flight	1955
Entered Service	1958
Manufacturer	Republic Aviation Company
Dimensions
Length	64 ft 3 in	19.58 m
Wingspan	34 ft 11.25 in	10.65 m
Height	19 ft 8 in	5.99 m
Wing area	384.3 ft²	35.77 m²
Weights
Empty	27,500 lb	12,474 kg
Loaded	lb	kg
Maximum takeoff	52,546 lb (F-105D)	23,834 kg
Powerplant
Engine	Pratt & Whitney J75 afterburning turbojet
Thrust	24,500 lb (F-105D,F,G)	11,113 kN
Performance
Maximum speed	1,480 mph (Mach 2.25) (F-105D,F,G)	2,382 km/h
Combat range	230 miles (F-105D)	370 km
Ferry range	2,390 miles	3,846 km
Service ceiling	52,000 ft	15,850 m
Rate of climb	34,000 ft/min	10,500 m/min
Wing loading	lb/ft²	kg/m²
Thrust/Weight
Avionics
Avionics
Armament
Guns	1 × 20 mm M-61 Vulcan cannon
Bombs	Internal bay with ordnance load of 8,000 lb (3,629 kg) and five external pylons for an additional 6,000 lb (2,722 kg)
Missiles
Rockets
Other

The F-105 Thunderchief was an American aircraft built by the Republic Aviation Company. It was a single-engined fighter-bomber. The Thunderchief replaced Republic's earlier F-84 Thunderjet.

The F-105 was heavily used during the Vietnam War and while used primarily in the bomber role, it was credited with 27.5 kills of North Vietnamese aircraft. It was nicknamed the "Thud" by its pilots.

The first flight was on October 22, 1955. The first aircraft was delivered to the United States Air Force in 1958. Over 800 were produced until production ended in 1964. During the first four years of the Vietnam War, F-105's were responsible for over 75% of air strikes against North Vietnam. Later in the conflict, some F-105s were fitted with radar-jamming equipment and used on wild weasel missions against enemy surface to air missiles. It was retired from the USAF in 1984.

The F-105 could reach a maximum speed of Mach 2.24 (1,480 mph, 2,382 km/h) and had a range of 2,390 miles (3,846 km). It's service ceiling was 50,000 feet (15,000 m). Thunderchiefs were armed with one 20 mm Vulcan Cannon and could carry over 20,000 lb (900 kg). of ordnance internally and externally.

External links

• Thud Ridge
• F-105 Thunderchief