F-105
Wiki is quoting all official figures which is fine if that's what you want. The low-level speed is probably in clean condition at max power and could be sustained for about 35 sec before running out of gas. The high-altitude speed is also clean, and on a cold day to boot. I have heard it suggested that by the end of the Thud's career the aircraft were too knackered and modified to go supersonic at all.
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Ummm....no.
GAF flew F-104s. No other countries save the US flew the mighty 'Thud.' Although there was an interesting article recently by an RAF exchange officer who claims the last F-105D sortie years ago at Nellis.
B-57 was not the 'Thud.'
The F-105 Thunderchief was nicknamed the "Thud" due to the numbers of losses it suffered in the Vietnam War. The Thuds were the mainstay of the Air Force's effort and as a result had more exposure in combat than other types of aircraft.
There is nothing more impressive than a clean Thud in overdrive in the tree tops!
She is big...loud....and FAST!
There is nothing more impressive than a clean Thud in overdrive in the tree tops!
She is big...loud....and FAST!
A certain 'warbird enthusiast and current UK based Eagle driver was salivating at the prospects of volunteering to be checked out in it if it comes to fruition...
Apocryphal story of a radio exchange between a lead and his wingman doing a Pack Six over the nasty bits of Viet Nam.
"Where are you 2?"
"Lead - 2 is at bullseye blah, range blah at blah. An' about a hundred feet!"
"Watchya' doin' down there?"
"A THOUSAND MILES AN HOUR - SOUTH!"
"Where are you 2?"
"Lead - 2 is at bullseye blah, range blah at blah. An' about a hundred feet!"
"Watchya' doin' down there?"
"A THOUSAND MILES AN HOUR - SOUTH!"
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Beags, same story I guess, low level over Nam (did they use bullseye then?), but the version I heard was:
"2, where are you?"
"I don't know man, but I'm doin' a thousand miles an hour!"
No doubt some F3 mate wants to join in on this debate.... Only one thousand eh, then I selected burner on the other engine, blah blah
I never got one over 800kts, but that's when they were shiney and new....
"2, where are you?"
"I don't know man, but I'm doin' a thousand miles an hour!"
No doubt some F3 mate wants to join in on this debate.... Only one thousand eh, then I selected burner on the other engine, blah blah
I never got one over 800kts, but that's when they were shiney and new....
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Thud trivia:
610 F-105D's built (single seat)
143 F-105Fs built (two seats, most later converted to F-105G Wild Weasels)
334 combat losses in SEA.
Used by the USAF Thunderbirds for first half of 1964 season. One broke in half during a pull-up, rest of the season flown in F-100s.
610 F-105D's built (single seat)
143 F-105Fs built (two seats, most later converted to F-105G Wild Weasels)
334 combat losses in SEA.
Used by the USAF Thunderbirds for first half of 1964 season. One broke in half during a pull-up, rest of the season flown in F-100s.
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Can't think of anythink heavier but there must have been bigger aircraft. Wasn't the Vigilante single engined for example?
Jack Broughton's book Thud Ridge describes flying the 105 beautifully. Nothing faster at low level, could haul an unbelievable load, no turn rate worth a damn, had a real Vulcan cannon up front, vulnerable hydraulic system and a seat which was likely to break your back if used in anger. Loved to have seen one in the flesh. What a great looking bird.
Jack Broughton's book Thud Ridge describes flying the 105 beautifully. Nothing faster at low level, could haul an unbelievable load, no turn rate worth a damn, had a real Vulcan cannon up front, vulnerable hydraulic system and a seat which was likely to break your back if used in anger. Loved to have seen one in the flesh. What a great looking bird.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
The USAF did a trial, back in the early 60s, IIRC, to investigate the lethality of supersonic flight on ground troops. They determined that it was indeed possible to incapacitate, or even kill, ground troops through supersonic overflight.
There was a catch.
The Thud had to fly supersonic at 5 feet. It would probably have killed more enemy using the airbrake as an axe.
There was a catch.
The Thud had to fly supersonic at 5 feet. It would probably have killed more enemy using the airbrake as an axe.