Phone: 303.360.5360 Online Exhibit of Aircraft
1965 F105-D Thunderchief
Fighter
Manufactured by Republic
This great fighting machine was designed in the 1950's. It was to be a
tactical nuclear bomber. It was the mainstay of our bombing campaign against
North Viet Nam. Although the F-105 was not a "dogfighter", it shot down 28
enemy fighters using its Vulcan cannon and Sidewinder missiles.
Due to heavy ordnance loads and high air temperatures, the F-105 flew in
afterburner much of the time in Viet Nam. The ship could reach a speed of
Mach 2.1, or 1,400 miles per hour at 33,000 feet. It could carry as much
as 14,000 pounds of ordnance mounted on four wing pylons, one belly pylon
and an internal bomb bay. The large size of the ship enabled it to carry
a large amount of fuel which provided it with a combat range of more than
900 miles.
The F-105 was extremely fast. It could easily outrun the Russian MIG fighters
flown by Russians, Chinese and North Vietnamese. However, many were shot down
by enemy anti-aircraft and surface to air (SAM) missile batteries. A later two-seater
model of the F-105 was charged with the task of destroying these ground installations
while flying as a "wild weasel". The rear cockpit was occupied by a weapons officer
in these later models. Roughly one half of the F-105' s serving in Viet Nam were
destroyed with many aircrews captured.
Specifications
- Role/Category: Fighter
- Powerplant: one jet engine rated at 26,000 pounds of thrust in afterburner
- Speed: Mach 2.1, or 1,400 miles per hour at 33,000 feet
- Armament: The F-105 had highly effective radar linked to a fire control system which enabled the fighter-bomber to fly all-weather and night missions
- Payload: 14,000 pounds of ordnance mounted on four wing pylons, one belly pylon and an internal bomb bay
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