Republic F-105 Thunderchief

Republic F-105 Thunderchief

About the Aircraft

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)
Republic Aviation F-105B Thunderchief Ser 54-0107

General Characteristics

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)
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

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)
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.