Republic F-105 Thunderchief
The Hickory Aviation Museum’s F-105B “Thud” Serial Number 54-0107 is on loan from the National Museum of the Air Force and is the second oldest surviving Thunderchief. Coordinated by Kyle & Kregg Kirby.
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. 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.
| National origin | United States of America |
| Manufacturer | Republic Aviation |
| First flight | 22 October 1955 |
| Introduction | 27 May 1958 |
| Retired | 25 February 1984 |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary users | United States Air Force |
| Produced | 1955–1964 |
| Number built | 833 |
| Propulsion | 1 × Pratt & Whitney J75-P-19W afterburning turbojet; Dry thrust: 14,300 Ibf Thrust with afterburner: 24,500 Ibf (109 kN) |
| Unit cost | US$2.14 million (F-105D, in 1960 dollars) |
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)
Wing area: 385 ft² (35.76 m²)
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)
Thrust/weight: 0.74
Lift-to-drag ratio: 10.4
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)
Wing loading: 93 lb/ft² (452 kg/m²)
Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled Gatling cannon, 1,028 rounds
Hardpoints: 5 total: 4× under-wing, 1× centerline stations; internal bomb bay with a capacity of 14,000 lb of ordnance, including conventional and nuclear bombs, and AIM-9 Sidewinder and AGM-12 Bullpup missiles.
