Republic F-84F 'Thunderstreak'
HISTORY
- In 1949 legendary designer Alexander Kartvelli and his design team at Republic Aviation modified an F-84, giving it a swept wing and tailplane. The resulting aircraft became the F-84F Thunderstreak. Initially, the F-84F had approximately 60 commonality with its strait-winged cousin. However, installation of the Wright J65 turbojet required a redesign of the fuselage, which was deepened by seven inches.
- Deliveries of the F-84F began in 1953. The Thunderstreak served with USAF Tactical Air Command (TAC) as a fighter-bomber and with Strategic Air Command (SAC) as a long-range escort fighter. The Thunderbirds flew the aircraft during the 1955 and part of the 1956 air show seasons.
- A total of 2,711 F-84Fs were built; over half were delivered to NATO air forces. The F-84F saw its only combat with the French Air Force during the Suez Crisis and the confrontation between Greece and Turkey over Cyprus. By the end of the 1950s the Thunderstreak had been retired from regular USAF units. Air National Guard squadrons flew the aircraft until 1971. Turkey, the last operator of the F-84F, retired its Thunderstreaks in 1982.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Status: Unrestored |
| Manufacturer: Republic Aviation |
| Year: 1951 |
| Model: F-84F Thunderstreak |
| Registration Number: |
| Serial Number: |
| Crew: 1 |
| Max T/O Weight: 28,000 lb. |
| Span: 33 ft. 7 in. |
| Length: 43 ft. 5 in. |
| Height: 14 ft. 5 in. |
| Maximum Speed: 658 mph |
| Cruise Speed: 535 mph |
Rate of Climb: 8,200 ft/min
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| Power Plant: 1 x Wright J65-W-3 turbojet engine, 7,220 lbs. thrust |
| Range: 810 mi |
| Service Ceiling: 46,000 ft. |
| Armament: Six 0.50-cal. machine guns and up to 6,000 lb. of external stores |
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