Republic F-105 Thunderchief

$2.14 million (1960) supersonic fighter bomber

USAF Republic F 105D Thunderchief
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credit: USAF Museum
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The Republic F-105 Thunderchief was manufactured by Republic Aviation as a supersonic fighter-bomber operated by the United States Air Force. With the ability to reach Mach 2 speed, the aircraft ushered most of the strike bombing missions in the early Vietnam War. It first flew in October 1955, was introduced in May 1958, and was retired in February 1984. The F-105 was produced from 1955 to 1964 with a total number of 833 aircraft built.

Manufacturer:
Republic Aviation
Country:
United States
Manufactured:
1955 to: 1964
ICAO:
F105
Price:
US$2.14 million (1960)
Avionics:
NASARR R-14A radar, AN/ASG-19 Thunderstick fire control system, AN/ARN-85 LORAN
Engine:
1x Pratt & Whitney J75-P-19W
Jet
Power:
26,500 pound-force
Max Cruise Speed:
1210 knots
2,241 Km/h
Approach Speed (Vref):
Travel range:
1,917 Nautical Miles
3,550 Kilometers
Fuel Economy:
Service Ceiling:
48,500 feet
Rate of Climb:
38500 feet / minute
195.58metre / second
Take Off Distance:
Landing Distance:
Max Take Off Weight:
23,967 Kg
52,838 lbs
Max Landing Weight:
Max Payload:
6,500 Kg
14,330 lbs
Fuel Tank Capacity:
2,810 gallon
10,637 litre
Baggage Volume:
Seats - Economy / General:
1 seats
Seats - Business Class:
Seats - First Class:
Cabin Height:
Cabin Width:
Cabin Length:
Exterior Length:
19.62 metre - 64.37 feet
Tail height:
6 metre - 19.68 feet
Fuselage Diameter:
1.3 metre - 4.27 feet
Wing Span / Rotor Diameter:
10.65 metre - 34.94 feet
Wing Tips:
No Winglets

Blog Mentions

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The F-105D was a definitive production version with an all-weather capability due to its improved avionics systems, such as the NASARR R-14A all-purpose monopulse radar, AN/ASG-19 Thunderstick fire control system, and AN/ARN-85 long-range navigation system. The aircraft has an external length of 19.62 meters, an external height of 3.55 meters, and a fuselage diameter of 1.3 meters. It has a tail height of 6 meters and a wheelbase of 6.3 meters. It was a mid-wing monoplane with a wingspan of 10.65 meters and a wing area of 35.8 square meters. The wing is swept at an angle of 45 degrees.

The aircraft is powered by a single Pratt and Whitney J75-P-19W axial-flow afterburning turbojet engine with a maximum afterburning thrust of 26,500 lbf with water injection. The F-105 has an empty weight of 12,181 kg, a gross weight of 16,165 kg, a maximum takeoff weight of 23,967 kg, and a maximum payload of 6,500 kg. The total fuel tank capacity is 2,810 US gal. It has a maximum speed of 1,210 knots at 35,000 feet. The combat range is 676 nautical miles and the ferry range is 1,917 nautical miles. It can fly up to 48,000 feet and can climb at a rate of 38,500 feet per minute.

The F-105 can be loaded with various armaments such as a single 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan six-barreled Gatling cannon with 1,028 rounds. It is equipped with five total hardpoints; four located under the wing, one in the centerline pylon stations plus an internal bomb bay with a capacity of up to  6,400 kg of ordnance, with provisions to carry combinations of LAU-32/LAU-59 rocket pods with seven Folding-fin Aerial Rockets each, AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, AGM-12 Bullpup air-to-surface missiles, and AGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missiles. The aircraft is also armed with M117 and Mark 80 series of general-purpose bombs, M118 demolition bombs, nuclear weapons, and cluster munitions.

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