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==Operational history==
==Operational history==
[[File:91st Tactical Fighter Squadron - Republic F-84F-50-RE Thunderstreak - 52-6852.jpg|thumb|A [[United States Air Forces in Europe|USAFE]] F-84F from the [[91st Tactical Fighter Squadron|91st TFS]] at [[RAF Bentwaters]].]]
[[File:91st Tactical Fighter Squadron - Republic F-84F-50-RE Thunderstreak - 52-6852.jpg|thumb|A [[United States Air Forces in Europe|USAFE]] F-84F from the [[91st Tactical Fighter Squadron|91st TFS]] at [[RAF Bentwaters]].]]
'''Project Run In''' completed operational tests in November 1954 and found the aircraft to be to USAF satisfaction and considerably better than the F-84G. However, ongoing engine failures resulted in the entire fleet being grounded in early 1955. Also, the J65 engine continued to suffer from [[flameout]]s when flying through heavy rain or snow.<ref name="knaack"/> As the result of the problems, the active duty phaseout began almost as soon as the F-84F entered service in 1954, and was completed by 1958. Increased tensions in Germany associated with construction of the [[Berlin Wall]] in 1961 resulted in reactivation of the F-84F fleet. In 1962, the fleet was grounded due to corrosion of control rods. A total of 1,800 [[man hour]]s was expended to bring each aircraft to full operational capacity.<ref name="knaack"/> The aircraft were retired from active service in 1964. Stress corrosion forced retirement of ANG F-84Fs in 1971.
Project Run In completed operational tests in November 1954 and found the aircraft to be to USAF satisfaction and considerably better than the F-84G. However, ongoing engine failures resulted in the entire fleet being grounded in early 1955. Also, the J65 engine continued to suffer from [[flameout]]s when flying through heavy rain or snow.<ref name="knaack"/> As the result of the problems, the active duty phaseout began almost as soon as the F-84F entered service in 1954, and was completed by 1958. Increased tensions in Germany associated with construction of the [[Berlin Wall]] in 1961 resulted in reactivation of the F-84F fleet. In 1962, the fleet was grounded due to the corrosion of control rods. A total of 1,800 [[man hour]]s were expended to bring each aircraft to full operational capacity.<ref name="knaack"/> The aircraft were retired from active service in 1964. Stress corrosion forced retirement of ANG F-84Fs in 1971.


In what is probably one of the very few air-to-air engagements involving the F-84F, two Turkish Air Force F-84F Thunderstreaks shot down two Iraqi [[Ilyushin Il-28|Il-28 Beagle]] bombers that crossed the Turkish border by mistake during a bombing operation against Iraqi Kurdish insurgents. This engagement took place on 16 August 1962.<ref>Cooper, Tom. [http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_454.shtml "Europe & Cold War Database: Cyprus, 1955-1973."] ''Air Combat Information Group'', 26 October 2003. Retrieved: 8 September 2009.</ref>
In what is probably one of the very few air-to-air engagements involving the F-84F, two Turkish Air Force F-84F Thunderstreaks shot down two Iraqi [[Ilyushin Il-28|Il-28 Beagle]] bombers that crossed the Turkish border by mistake during a bombing operation against Iraqi Kurdish insurgents. This engagement took place on 16 August 1962.<ref>Cooper, Tom. [http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_454.shtml "Europe & Cold War Database: Cyprus, 1955-1973."] ''Air Combat Information Group'', 26 October 2003. Retrieved: 8 September 2009.</ref>

Revision as of 12:45, 3 July 2013

F-84F Thunderstreak
RF-84F Thunderflash
USAF F-84F Thunderstreak
Role Fighter-bomber
Manufacturer Republic Aviation
Designer Alexander Kartveli
First flight June 3, 1950
Introduction May 12, 1954
Retired 1972 (US ANG)
1991 (Greece)
Primary users United States Air Force
Belgian Air Force
Greek Air Force
Turkish Air Force
Number built 3428
Developed from Republic F-84 Thunderjet
Variants Republic XF-84H Thunderscreech

The Republic F-84F Thunderstreak was an American-built swept-wing turbojet fighter-bomber. While an evolutionary development of the straight-wing F-84 Thunderjet, the F-84F was a new design. The RF-84F Thunderflash was a photo reconnaissance version.

Design and development

In 1949, a swept wing version of the F-84 was created with the hope of bringing performance to the level of theF-86. The last production F-84E was fitted with a swept tail, a new wing with 38.5 degrees of leading edge sweep and 3.5 degrees of anhedral, and a J35-A-25 engine producing 5,300 pound-force (23.58 kN) of thrust.[1] The aircraft was designated XF-96A. It flew on 3 June 1950 with Otto P. Haas at the controls. Although the airplane was capable of 602 knots (693 mph, 1,115 km/h), the performance gain over the F-84E was considered minor.[1] Nonetheless, it was ordered into production in July of 1950 as the F-84F Thunderstreak. The F-84 designation was retained because the fighter was expected to be a low-cost improvement of the straight-wing Thunderjet with over 55 percent commonality in tooling.[1]

F-84F Thunderstreaks flown by USAF Thunderbirds

In the meantime, the USAF, hoping for improved high-altitude performance from a more powerful engine, arranged for the British Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire turbojet engine to be built in the United States as the Wright J65. To accommodate the larger engine, YF-84Fs with a British-built Sapphire as well as production F-84Fs with the J65 had a vertically stretched fuselage, with the air intake attaining an oval cross-section. Production delays with the F-84F forced the USAF to order a number of straight-wing F-84Gs as an interim measure.[1]

Production quickly ran into problems. Although tooling commonality with the Thunderjet was supposed to be 55 percent, in reality only fifteen percent of tools could be reused.[1] To make matters worse, the F-84F utilized press-forged wing spars and ribs. At the time, only three presses in the United States could manufacture these, and priority was given to the Boeing B-47 Stratojet bomber over the F-84.[1] The YJ65-W-1 engine was considered obsolete and the improved J65-W-3 did not become available until 1954. When the first production F-84F finally flew on 22 November 1952, it differed from the service test aircraft. It had a different canopy which opened up and back instead of sliding to the rear, as well as airbrakes on the sides of the fuselage instead of the bottom of the aircraft.[1] The aircraft was considered not ready for operational deployment due to control and stability problems. The first 275 aircraft, equipped with conventional stabilizer-elevator tailplanes, suffered from accelerated stall pitch-up and poor turning ability at combat speeds. Beginning with Block 25, the problem was ameliorated by the introduction of a hydraulically-powered one-piece stabilator. A number of aircraft were also retrofitted with spoilers for improved high-speed control. As a result, the F-84F was not declared operational until 12 May 1954.[1]

Operational history

A USAFE F-84F from the 91st TFS at RAF Bentwaters.

Project Run In completed operational tests in November 1954 and found the aircraft to be to USAF satisfaction and considerably better than the F-84G. However, ongoing engine failures resulted in the entire fleet being grounded in early 1955. Also, the J65 engine continued to suffer from flameouts when flying through heavy rain or snow.[1] As the result of the problems, the active duty phaseout began almost as soon as the F-84F entered service in 1954, and was completed by 1958. Increased tensions in Germany associated with construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 resulted in reactivation of the F-84F fleet. In 1962, the fleet was grounded due to the corrosion of control rods. A total of 1,800 man hours were expended to bring each aircraft to full operational capacity.[1] The aircraft were retired from active service in 1964. Stress corrosion forced retirement of ANG F-84Fs in 1971.

In what is probably one of the very few air-to-air engagements involving the F-84F, two Turkish Air Force F-84F Thunderstreaks shot down two Iraqi Il-28 Beagle bombers that crossed the Turkish border by mistake during a bombing operation against Iraqi Kurdish insurgents. This engagement took place on 16 August 1962.[2]

Thunderflash

RF-84F Thunderflash, the reconnaissance version of the F-84F.

The second YF-84F prototype was completed with wing-root air intakes. These were not adopted for the fighter due to loss of thrust. However, this arrangement permitted placement of cameras in the nose and the design was adopted for the RF-84F Thunderflash reconnaissance version. The first YRF-84F was completed in February 1952.[1] The aircraft retained an armament of four machine guns and could carry up to fifteen cameras. Innovations included computerized controls which adjusted camera settings for light, speed, and altitude, a periscope to give the pilot better visualization of the target, and a voice recorder to let the pilot narrate his observations. Being largely identical to the F-84F, the Thunderflash suffered from the same production delays and engine problems, delaying operational service until March 1954. The aircraft was retired from active duty in 1957, only to be reactivated in 1961, and finally retired from the ANG in 1972.[1]

Several modified Thunderflashes were used in the FICON project.

Flying the Thunderstreak

The Thunderstreak suffered from the same poor takeoff performance as the straight-wing Thunderjets despite having a more powerful engine. In reality, almost 700 pounds-force (3.11 kN) or 10 percent of total thrust was lost because the J65 was installed at an angle and its exhaust had a prominent kink. On a hot day, 7,500 feet (2,285 m) of runway were required for takeoff roll.[3] A typical takeoff speed was 160 knots (185 mph, 300 km/h).[3] Like the Thunderjet, the Thunderstreak excelled at cruise and had predictable handling characteristics within its performance envelope. Like its predecessor, it also suffered from accelerated stall pitch-up and potential resulting separation of wings from the airplane. In addition, spins in the F-84F were practically unrecoverable and ejection was the only recourse below 10,000 feet (3,000 m).[3]

An Ohio Air National Guard F-84F in the late 1960s.

With the appearance of Republic's F-105 Thunderchief, which also used wing-root mounted air intakes, the Thunderstreak became known as the Thud's Mother.[3] The earlier F-84A had been nicknamed the "Hog" and the F-84F "Super Hog," the F-105 becoming the "Ultra Hog."

March 9, 1955: Lt. Col. Robert R. Scott, in a F-84F Thunderstreak, set a three hour, 44-minute and 53-second record for the 2,446 mile flight from Los Angeles to New York."Week In History". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved 4 March 2013.

By the mid-1960s, the F-84F was replaced by the North American F-100 Super Sabre and the RF-84F by the RF-101 Voodoo in USAF units, being relegated to duty in the Air National Guard. The last F-84F Thunderflash retired from the ANG in 1971. Three Hellenic Air Force RF-84Fs that were retired in 1991 were the last operational F-84s.

Richard Bach, who later wrote the bestseller Jonathan Livingston Seagull, was an ANG F-84F pilot who was once activated for duty in Europe. His first book, Stranger to the Ground, described in detail what it was like to fly the Thunderstreak in the course of an operational flight at night from England to France in adverse weather.

Variants and production blocks

An Italian F-84F
The Republic XF-84H Thunderscreech prototype
One of the YF-84J prototypes
YF-84F
Two swept-wing prototypes of the F-84F, initially designated YF-96.
F-84F Thunderstreak
Swept wing version with Wright J65 engine. Tactical Air Command aircraft were equipped with Low-Altitude Bombing System (LABS) for delivering nuclear bombs. 2,711 built, 1,301 went to NATO under Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP).
GRF-84F
25 RF-84Fs were converted to be carried, and launched from the bomb bay of a GRB-36F bomber as part of the FICON project. The aircraft were later redesignated RF-84K.
RF-84F Thunderflash
Reconnaissance version of the F-84F, 715 built.
XF-84H
Two F-84Fs were converted into experimental aircraft. Each was fitted with an Allison XT40-A-1 turboprop engine of 5,850 shaft horsepower (4,365 kW) driving a supersonic propeller. Ground crews dubbed the XF-84H the Thunderscreech due to its extreme noise output.[1]
YF-84J
Two F-84Fs were converted into YF-84J prototypes with enlarged nose intakes and a deepened fuselages for the General Electric J73 engine; the YF-84J reached Mach 1.09 in level flight on 7 April 1954.[1] The project was cancelled due to the excessive cost of converting extant F-84Fs.

Serial number Quantity produced type and block

  • 49-2430 1 YF-84F-RE
  • 51-1344/1345 2 YF-84F-RE
  • 51-1346/1355 10 F-84F-1-RE
  • 51-1356/1380 25 F-84F-5-RE
  • 51-1381/1430 50 F-84F-10-RE
  • 51-1431/1510 80 F-84F-15-RE
  • 51-1511/1620 110 F-84F-20-RE
  • 51-1621/1760 140 F-84F-25-RE (A)
  • 51-1761/1827 67 F-84F-30-RE (B)
  • 51-9311/9320 10 F-84F-1-GK
  • 51-9321/9335 15 F-84F-5-GK
  • 51-9336/9356 21 F-84F-10-GK
  • 51-9357/9409 53 F-84F-25-GK (A)
  • 51-9410/9454 45 F-84F-30-GK (B)
  • 51-9455/9503 49 F-84F-35-GK (C)
  • 51-9504/9547 44 F-84F-40-GK (D)
  • 51-17061/17088 28 F-84F-35-RE (C)
  • 52-6355/6422 68 F-84F-30-RE (B)
  • 52-6423/6522 100 F-84F-35-RE (C)
  • 52-6523/6642 120 F-84F-40-RE (D)
  • 52-6643/6812 170 F-84F-45-RE (E)
  • 52-6813/6907 95 F-84F-50-RE (F)
  • 52-6908/7007 100 F-84F-55-RE (G)
  • 52-7008/7017 10 F-84F-56-RE (G)
  • 52-7018/7049 32 F-84F-35-RE (C)
  • 52-7050/7089 40 F-84F-40-RE (D)
  • 52-7090/7114 25 F-84F-45-RE (E)
  • 52-7115/7126 12 F-84F-46-RE (E)
  • 52-7127/7191 65 F-84F-51-RE (F)
  • 52-7192/7228 37 F-84F-56-RE (G)
  • 52-8767/8834 68 F-84F-41-GK (D)
  • 52-8835/8982 148 F-84F-46-GK (E)
  • 52-8983/9128 146 F-84F-51-GK (F)
  • 52-10510/10538 29 F-84F-56-RE (G)
  • 53-6532/6715 184 F-84F-61-RE (H)
  • 53-6716/6835 120 F-84F-66-RE (J)
  • 53-6836/6955 120 F-84F-71-RE (K)
  • 53-6956/7075 120 F-84F-76-RE (K)
  • 53-7076/7230 155 F-84F-81-RE (K)
  • 51-1828 1 YRF-84F-RE
  • 51-1829/1958 130 RF-84F-1-RE
  • 51-11250/11297 48 RF-84F-RE
  • 51-16996/17058 63 RF-84F-RE
  • 52-7229/7475 247 RF-84F-RE
  • 52-7254/7278 25 RF-84K-RE
  • 52-8717/8766 50 RF-84F-30-RE
  • 53-7521/7697 177 RF-84F-RE
  • 57-6552/6716 165 RF-84F-RE

Operators

Royal Netherlands Air Force F-84F.
German RF-84F Thunderjet with 6 cameras in the closed nose
A Michigan Air National Guard RF-84F.
 Belgium
 Republic of China
 Denmark
 France
 Germany
  • Luftwaffe (450× F-84F, 108× RF-84F 1956-1967)
 Greece
 Italy
 Netherlands
 Norway
 Turkey
 United States

Aircraft on display

Norway

RF-84F

Poland

F-84F

United Kingdom

F-84F

United States

XF-84F
F-84F
RF-84F Thunderflash

Specifications (F-84F)

Orthographically projected diagram of the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak.
Orthographically projected diagram of the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak.

Data from Fighters of the United States Air Force,Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page). Combat Aircraft since 1945[47]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1

Performance Armament

Avionics

  • A-1CM or A-4 gunsight with APG-30 or MK-18 ranging radar

Communications Equipment

  • AN/ARC-33 or 34 command set radio
  • AN/APX-6 or 6A IFF set
  • AN/AR-6 radio compass
  • AN/APW-11 or 11A radar set
  • AN/APN-21 TACAN set

Accidents and incidents

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Knaack 1978, p. 42.
  2. ^ Cooper, Tom. "Europe & Cold War Database: Cyprus, 1955-1973." Air Combat Information Group, 26 October 2003. Retrieved: 8 September 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d Higham, Robin and Carol Williams. Flying Combat Aircraft of USAAF-USAF (Vol.2). Rockville, Maryland: Air Force Historical Foundation, 1978. ISBN 0-8138-0375-6.
  4. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/52-7157." skrzydla.org. Retrieved: 7 May 2013.
  5. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/52-6541." North East Aircraft Museum. Retrieved: 7 May 2013.
  6. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/49-2430." National Museum of the USAF. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  7. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/unknown." flickr.com. Retrieved: 17 June 2013.
  8. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/51-1386." 8th Air Force Museum. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  9. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/51-1620." Empire State Aeorsciences Museum. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  10. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/51-1640." Hill Aerospace Museum. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  11. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/51-1714." Strategic Air & Space Museum. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  12. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/51-1772." Aerospace Space Museum of California. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  13. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/51-1786." Virginia Air & Space Center. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  14. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/51-1797." Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  15. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/51-1817." Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  16. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/51-1818." Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  17. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/51-1822." Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  18. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/51-9350." Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  19. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/51-9396." Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  20. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/51-9432." March Field Air Museum. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  21. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/51-9433." Castle Air Museum. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  22. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/51-9444." Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  23. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/51-9451." Sky Tamer Retrieved: 19 March 2013.
  24. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/51-9495." Air Force Armament Museum. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  25. ^ "F-84F Thunderstreak/51-9501." Yankee Air Museum. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  26. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/51-9514." Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  27. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/51-9531." Chanute Air Museum. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  28. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/52-6438." Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  29. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/52-6461." Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  30. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/52-6470." Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  31. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/52-6497." Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  32. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/52-6526." National Museum of the USAF. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  33. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/52-6563." Pima Air & Space Museum. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  34. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/52-6634." Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  35. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/52-6701." Museum of Aviation. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  36. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/52-6782." Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  37. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/52-7019." Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  38. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/52-7080." Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  39. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/52-8837." Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  40. ^ "F-84 Thunderstreak/52-8886." Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  41. ^ "F-84 Thunderflash/51-1944." Pima Air and Space Museum. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  42. ^ "RF-84 Thunderflash/52-7249." Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  43. ^ "RF-84 Thunderflash/52-7259." National Museum of the USAF. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  44. ^ "RF-84 Thunderflash/52-7265." Planes of Fame Museum. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  45. ^ "RF-84 Thunderflash/52-7409." Warbird Registry. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  46. ^ "RF-84F Thunderflash/52-7421." Yankee Air Museum. Retrieved: 11 October 2012.
  47. ^ Wilson 2000, p. 119.
  48. ^ http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/Nightly%20News/photos/bud%20Day%20Article.pdf "Col. George "Bud" Day Siouxland's Hometown Hero."] msn.com. Retrieved: 28 October 2012.
  49. ^ "Alpine Rescue Ends Terror." Spokane Daily Chronicle, 30 August 1961, p. 6.
  50. ^ "Strauss-Befehl: Bier-Order 61"Template:De icon. Der Spiegel, 9 May 1962. Retrieved: 30 November 2010.

Bibliography

  • Bowers, Peter M. and Enzo Angellucci. The American Fighter. New York: Orion Books, 1987. ISBN 0-517-56588-9.
  • Donald, David and Jon Lake, eds. Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. London: AIRtime Publishing, 1996. ISBN 1-880588-24-2.
  • Dorr, Robert F. and David Donald. Fighters of the United States Air Force. London: Temple Press Aerospace, 1990. ISBN 0-600-55094-X.
  • Forrer, Frits T. The Fun of Flying. Gulf Breeze, Florida: Holland's Glory, 1992. ISBN 0-9714490-3-1.
  • Hiltermann, Gijs. "Republic F-84F Thunderstreak." Vliegend in Nederland 1 (in Dutch). Eindhoven, Netherlands: Flash Aviation, 1988. ISBN 978-90-71553-04-2.
  • Keaveney, Kevin. Republic F-84/Swept-Wing Variants (Aerofax Minigraph, No 15). London: Aerofax, 1987. ISBN 0-942548-20-5.
  • Knaack, Marcelle Size. Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems: Volume 1 Post-World War II Fighters 1945-1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History, 1978. ISBN 0-912799-59-5.
  • Swanborough, Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. United States Military Aircraft Since 1909. Washington, DC: Smithsonian, 1989. ISBN 0-87474-880-1.
  • United States Air Force Museum Guidebook. Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio: Air Force Museum Foundation, 1975.
  • Wagner, Ray. American Combat Planes, Third Enlarged Edition. New York: Doubleday, 1982. ISBN 0-385-13120-8.
  • Wilson, Stewart. Combat Aircraft since 1945. Fyshwick, Australia: Aerospace Publications, 2000. ISBN 1-875671-50-1.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to F-84F Thunderstreak.
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