F-105 Thunderchief

F-105 Thunderchief Development and Production

F-105D Thunderchief, S/N 61-0146, Tail Code HI, Air Force Flight Test Museum, Edwards AFB, California

The Republic Aviation F-105 was a supersonic fighter-bomber capable of Mach-2 speeds. The aircraft was initially an internal Republic project designed to replace the RF-84F Thunderflash.

The U.S. Air Force awarded Republic with a contract for 199 aircraft in September of 1952, but later downgraded the order in size. Near the end of 1953, the entire program was canceled by the Air Force due to a number of delays and uncertainties regarding the aircraft.

In 1954, it placed another order, and the YF-105A prototype first flew in October of 1955. The first production F-105B was accepted by the Air Force in May of 1957.

In June 1957 Republic Aviation requested that the F-105 be named Thunderchief, continuing the sequence of the company's Thunder-named aircraft, e.g. P-47 Thunderbolt, F-84 Thunderjet, and F-84F Thunderstreak.

F-105 Wild Weasel versions were also built.

The F-105 was the largest single-seat, single-engine combat aircraft in history, weighing in at about 50,000 pounds. The Mach-2 capable F-105 conducted most of the strike bombing missions during the early years of the Viet Nam War. Over 20,000 Thunderchief sorties were flown during the war, with 382 F-105 aircraft lost.

One of its nicknames was "Thud".

F-105 Thunderchief of the USAF Thunderbirds

Six airshows by the USAF Thunderbirds demonstration team were flown in 1964 using the F-105. Following an in the F-105, the Thunderbirds transitioned back to the F-100 Super Sabre.

F-105 Thunderchief Models and Production

Various models were producted, including the F-105B, F-105D and F-105F.

By the end of production, 833 of the F-105 aircraft had been built.

F-105 Thunderchief Survivors

The last F-105 ended service in February, 1984.

Today, about ninety (90) F-105 Thunderchiefs have survived and are on display in the United States. Others are on display in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Mexico. Shown below are photographs of respresentative F-105 restorations and displays.

 

Photos of Surviving F-105 Thunderchiefs

F-105D "Iron Duke", S/N 62-4360 , Tail Code SH, at the Charles B. Hall Airpark, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

F-105 Thunderchief, S/N 57-803, on display at the March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California

Tail section of F-105 Thunderchief, S/N 57-803, Tail Code HI, at the March Field Air Museum in California

Republic F-105D-10-RE Thunderchief, S/N 60-0500 at HAMM, Tyler, Texas

Republic Aviation F-105D-10-RE Thunderchief, S/N 60-0500

Republic F-105D-10-RE Thunderchief, Tyler, Texas

 

 

F-105G Thunderchief, S/N 62-4440, restored and on static display at the Hill Aerospace Musseum in Odgen, Utah

USAF F-105G Thunderchief, S/N 62-4440

F-105G Thunderchief S/N 56-3296 in the airpark at the site of the closed England Air Force Base

Republic F-105 Thunderchief, in Fighting Tigers paint scheme, at England Air Force Base

Republic F-105 Thunderchief, Tail Code MD, at the closed England Air Force Base, Alexandria, Louisiana

F-105D Thunderchief S/N 62-4259, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia

F-105 Thunderchief at the Air Force Armanent Museum near Fort Walton, Florida

F-105 Thunderchief, S/N 57839, at the gate of Ellsworth AFB

Tail section of F-105 Thunderchief, S/N 57839, Tail Code HI

F-105B Thunderchief, S/N 57-5823, at Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane, Washington (photo by Michael Hoschouer)

F-105D Thunderchief, Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, Arizona (photo by Michael Hoschouer)

F-105D Thunderchief, S/N 61-0145, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico (photo by Michael Hoschouer)

F-105D Thunderchief, S/N 62-4301, McClellan AFB Museum, Sacramento, CA (photo by Michael Hoschouer)

F-105G Thunderchief, S/N 62-4416, Joe Davies Heritage Airpark at Palmdale Plant 42 in California (photo by Michael Hoschouer)

F-105G Thunderchief, S/N 62-4427, Tail Code WW, Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona (photo by Michael Hoschouer)

 

 

F-105G Thunderchief, S/N 62-4432, Tail Code WA, Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, McMinnville, Oregon (photo by Michael Hoschouer)

F-105D Thunderchief, S/N 61-0107, Buzz Number FH-107, National Museum of Nuclear Science, Albuquerque NM (photo by Michael Hoschouer)