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F-105 Thunderchief Republic
F-105 Thunderchief
Fighter Bomber

DESCRIPTION:
The F-105 was a rugged fighter bomber that saw a great deal of action in the Vietnam War. The design was notable in many respects, including its large bomb-bay, unique forward-swept engine inlets at the wing root, and the fact that it remains the largest single-seat combat aircraft ever built.
Also called the 'Ultra Hog,' 'Lead Sled,' and 'Thud,' by its pilots, the Thundechief was originally intended to be a long-range tactical nuclear bomber operating at high speed and altitude. During the Vietnam War, however, the F-105 was used extensively as a conventional attack aircraft striking deep within enemy territory. Later F-105G models were also modified as the first dedicated defense-suppression 'Wild-Weasel' aircraft.
The F-105 began entering service in 1958 and was not withdrawn from front-line service until 1982. The final operational flight occurred in 1984.
Data below for F-105F/G
Last modified 29 November 2005

HISTORY:

First Flight (YF-105A) 22 October 1955
(F-105B) 26 May 1956
(F-105F) 11 June 1963

Service Entry August 1958

Retirement 25 February 1984

CREW:

(B,D) 1 pilot, (F,G) one pilot and one systems officer

ESTIMATED COST:

(F-105D) $2.2 million

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:

Wing Root NACA 65A005.5

Wing Tip NACA 65A003.7

DIMENSIONS:

Length 69.63 ft (21.21 m)

Wingspan 34.94 ft (10.65 m)

Height 20.17 ft (6.15 m)

Wing Area 384.3 ft² (35.77 m²)

Canard Area

not applicable

WEIGHTS:

Empty 28,393 lb (12,879 kg)

Normal Takeoff unknown

Max Takeoff 54,000 lb (24,495 kg)

Fuel Capacity internal: unknown
external: unknown

Max Payload

14,000 lb (6,350 kg)

PROPULSION:

Powerplant one Pratt & Whitney J75-19W afterburning turbojet

Thrust

24,500 lb (109.0 kN)

PERFORMANCE:

Max Level Speed at altitude: 1,390 mph (2,235 km/h) at 36,000 ft (10,975 m), Mach 2.1
at sea level: unknown

Initial Climb Rate 32,000 ft (9,750 m) / min

Service Ceiling 52,000 ft (15,850 m)

Range typical: 400 nm (740 km)
ferry: 2,080 nm (3,850 km)

g-Limits

unknown

ARMAMENT:

Gun one 20-mm M-61A1 cannon (1,029 rds)

Stations one internal weapons bay and five external hardpoints

Air-to-Air Missile up to four AIM-9 Sidewinder

Air-to-Surface Missile AGM-12 Bullpup, AGM-45 Shrike (G only)

Bomb various nuclear bombs, up to two 3,000-lb bombs, up to five 1,000-lb bombs, up to 16 750-lb bombs, Mk 77 Napalm

Other

ECM pods, 2.75-in rocket pods

KNOWN VARIANTS:

YF-105A Original prototype, never went into production

YF-105B Improved prototype with upgraded engine and a new fuselage shape dictated by the "area-rule"

F-105B First production one-seat fighter bomber; 71 built

RF-105B Proposed reconnaissance model, not built

JF-105B Test aircraft re-built from RF-105B airframes; 3 converted

F-105C Proposed two-seat trainer, not built

F-105D One-seat all-weather fighter bomber with a new radar and navigation equipment, improved engine, and better avionics; 600 built

RF-105D Proposed reconnaissance model, not built

F-105E Proposed two-seat trainer based on the F-105D model, not built

F-105F Two-seat combat-capable trainer; 143 built

EF-105F Re-built F-105F models equipped with radar homing and jamming equipment; 86 converted

F-105G Two-seat defense suppression model with electronic countermeasures, radar homing, and jamming equipment; 60 EF-105F models rebuilt as F-105G variant

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD: Vietnam War (USAF, 1965-1972)

KNOWN OPERATORS: United States (US Air Force)
United States (US Air Force Reserves)
United States (US Air National Guard)

3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:

F-105 Thunderchief

SOURCES:

Bishop, Chris, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Weapons: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Weapon Systems from 1945 to the Present Day. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1999, p. 262, Republic F-105 Thunderchief.

Bonds, Ray, ed. The Modern US War Machine: An Encyclopedia of American Military Equipment and Strategy. NY: Military Press, 1987, p. 206-207, Republic F-105 Thunderchief.

Donald, David, ed. Century Jets: USAF Frontline Fighters of the Cold War. Norwalk, CT: AIRtime Publishing, 2004, p. 192-225, Republic F-105 Thunderchief.

Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 773, Republic F-105 Thunderchief.

Bob Huntley's F-105 site

Paul Nann's Military Aviation Photo Gallery

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DESCRIPTION: The F-105 was a rugged fighter bomber that saw a great deal of action in the Vietnam War. The design was notable in many respects, including its large bomb-bay, unique forward-swept engine inlets at the wing root, and the fact that it remains the largest single-seat combat aircraft ever built. Also called the 'Ultra Hog,' 'Lead Sled,' and 'Thud,' by its pilots, the Thundechief was originally intended to be a long-range tactical nuclear bomber operating at high speed and altitude. During the Vietnam War, however, the F-105 was used extensively as a conventional attack aircraft striking deep within enemy territory. Later F-105G models were also modified as the first dedicated defense-suppression 'Wild-Weasel' aircraft. The F-105 began entering service in 1958 and was not withdrawn from front-line service until 1982. The final operational flight occurred in 1984. Data below for F-105F/G Last modified 29 November 2005
HISTORY:
First Flight	(YF-105A) 22 October 1955 (F-105B) 26 May 1956 (F-105F) 11 June 1963
Service Entry	August 1958
Retirement	25 February 1984
CREW:	(B,D) 1 pilot, (F,G) one pilot and one systems officer
ESTIMATED COST:	(F-105D) $2.2 million
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	NACA 65A005.5
Wing Tip	NACA 65A003.7
DIMENSIONS:
Length	69.63 ft (21.21 m)
Wingspan	34.94 ft (10.65 m)
Height	20.17 ft (6.15 m)
Wing Area	384.3 ft² (35.77 m²)
Canard Area	not applicable
WEIGHTS:
Empty	28,393 lb (12,879 kg)
Normal Takeoff	unknown
Max Takeoff	54,000 lb (24,495 kg)
Fuel Capacity	internal: unknown external: unknown
Max Payload	14,000 lb (6,350 kg)
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	one Pratt & Whitney J75-19W afterburning turbojet
Thrust	24,500 lb (109.0 kN)
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed	at altitude: 1,390 mph (2,235 km/h) at 36,000 ft (10,975 m), Mach 2.1 at sea level: unknown
Initial Climb Rate	32,000 ft (9,750 m) / min
Service Ceiling	52,000 ft (15,850 m)
Range	typical: 400 nm (740 km) ferry: 2,080 nm (3,850 km)
g-Limits	unknown
ARMAMENT:
Gun	one 20-mm M-61A1 cannon (1,029 rds)
Stations	one internal weapons bay and five external hardpoints
Air-to-Air Missile	up to four AIM-9 Sidewinder
Air-to-Surface Missile	AGM-12 Bullpup, AGM-45 Shrike (G only)
Bomb	various nuclear bombs, up to two 3,000-lb bombs, up to five 1,000-lb bombs, up to 16 750-lb bombs, Mk 77 Napalm
Other	ECM pods, 2.75-in rocket pods
KNOWN VARIANTS:
YF-105A	Original prototype, never went into production
YF-105B	Improved prototype with upgraded engine and a new fuselage shape dictated by the "area-rule"
F-105B	First production one-seat fighter bomber; 71 built
RF-105B	Proposed reconnaissance model, not built
JF-105B	Test aircraft re-built from RF-105B airframes; 3 converted
F-105C	Proposed two-seat trainer, not built
F-105D	One-seat all-weather fighter bomber with a new radar and navigation equipment, improved engine, and better avionics; 600 built
RF-105D	Proposed reconnaissance model, not built
F-105E	Proposed two-seat trainer based on the F-105D model, not built
F-105F	Two-seat combat-capable trainer; 143 built
EF-105F	Re-built F-105F models equipped with radar homing and jamming equipment; 86 converted
F-105G	Two-seat defense suppression model with electronic countermeasures, radar homing, and jamming equipment; 60 EF-105F models rebuilt as F-105G variant
KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:	Vietnam War (USAF, 1965-1972)
KNOWN OPERATORS:	United States (US Air Force) United States (US Air Force Reserves) United States (US Air National Guard)
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:
SOURCES: Bishop, Chris, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Weapons: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Weapon Systems from 1945 to the Present Day. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1999, p. 262, Republic F-105 Thunderchief. Bonds, Ray, ed. The Modern US War Machine: An Encyclopedia of American Military Equipment and Strategy. NY: Military Press, 1987, p. 206-207, Republic F-105 Thunderchief. Donald, David, ed. Century Jets: USAF Frontline Fighters of the Cold War. Norwalk, CT: AIRtime Publishing, 2004, p. 192-225, Republic F-105 Thunderchief. Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 773, Republic F-105 Thunderchief. Bob Huntley's F-105 site Paul Nann's Military Aviation Photo Gallery