XBradTC

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XBradTC

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Early Thuds

The massive F-105 Thunderchief is famed for its role in Rolling Thunder during the Vietnam war. Its early service, however, was plagued by technical issues. The first production model, the F-105B, was quite unsatisfactory, and only 71 were built. Lessons learned from that early model, coupled with improved avionics, were implemented in the main production…

The massive F-105 Thunderchief is famed for its role in Rolling Thunder during the Vietnam war. Its early service, however, was plagued by technical issues. The first production model, the F-105B, was quite unsatisfactory, and only 71 were built. Lessons learned from that early model, coupled with improved avionics, were implemented in the main production model, the F-105D.

Here’s a Republic Aviation marketing film showing some of the features of the early F-105B. The easiest visual cue to distinguish the B from the D is the shorter nose of the B model, with the gun port of the M61 being much closer to the tip of the nose.

 

Between a trip out of town over the holidays, and a really nasty man cold, I’m sorry for the light posting. I’m trying to improve on that!

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Responses to “Early Thuds”

  1. CT II Raven

    I was at George AFB in Jul 1980 for the F-105 sawadee (Dobbins AFR still had the F-105Gs)
    As part of the ceremony 1 ea of the 5 production variants did a flyover in full burner at 1K feet. If there were car alarms in those days they would have set them off all the way to the far side of Apple Valley or Phelan.
    If you have never heard 5 J-75s in full burner that close, it is impressive.. Sorry, couldn’t hear your response.
    The F-135 is probably just as loud these days

    Like

  2. Paul L. Quandt

    “…a really nasty man cold,…”
    S’ok. Just get well. We’ll survive, you need to also.
    Paul L. Quandt

    Like

  3. FormerFlyer

    Wow, there’s something you won’t see advertised today. High toss bombing for delivering nukes, and low altitude delivery of chemical Munitions in drop tanks. What a different mindset we used back then.

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  4. Esli

    Sitting here watching this video instead of the optional lecture on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. War College is seriously boring….
    I am always amazed that the Thunderbirds ever, no matter how briefly, flew in F105s.

    Like

  5. Captain Ned

    A “short takeoff”, in a Republic product?? Every fighter Republic ever made was a ground-lover.

    Like

  6. CT II Raven

    Ned, short being a relative term, for a Republic aircraft …
    Once airborne it would go like a bat out of hell.

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  7. timactual

    “… optional lecture on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.”
    At least it’s optional. I guess the War College recognizes by now that it is worthless.

    Like

  8. Quartermaster

    Well Esli, when you pinned the Chickens on you asked for it. At least Carlisle Barracks is a peaceful place.

    Like

  9. Casey

    Built the Monogram 1/48 F-105D back in the day.
    Big sucker. Some very pretty lines after they introduced the “coke bottle” waist.

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