Chicagoland's Only Aviation Museum
Republic F-105D Thunderchief
In 1951, Republic Aviation began a project to develop a supersonic
tactical fighter-bomber to replace the F-84F. The result was the F-105 "Thunderchief,"
later affectionately nicknamed the "Thud." The prototype YF-105A first
flew on October 22, 1955 but the first F-105D did not fly until June 9, 1959.
F-105s were produced in the single-seat -B and -D series, and in the two seat
F-105F model. Later, some -Fs were modified to become F-105Gs. A total of 833
Thunderchiefs of all types were built, including 610 F-105Ds.
US Air Force F-105 Thunderchief
The F-105D could carry over 12,000 pounds of ordnance, a heavier bomb load than
a World War II B-17. Up to 8,000 pounds could be carried internally in the bomb
bay. The F-105D was used extensively in the Vietnam War. It flew 75 percent of
the air strikes against North Vietnam during its first four years. The last
F-105D was withdrawn from USAF service on July 12, 1980.
The aircraft on display arrived at the Museum in April 1997.
- Type - Fighter/Attack
- Manufacturer - Republic
- Designation - F-105
- Nickname - Thunderchief (or "Thud")
- Span - 34 ft 11 in.
- Length - 64 ft 5 in.
- Height - 19 ft 8 in.
- Weight - 52,838 lbs. max.
- Armament - One M61 Vulcan 20mm cannon and more than 12,000 lbs. of
- Engine - One Pratt & Whitney J75-P-19W of 24,500 lbs thrust with
- Maximum speed - 1,390 mph.
- Cruising speed - 778 mph.
- Range - 2,206 miles
- Service Ceiling: 51,000 ft.
- Crew - One
- Cost - $2,136,668
Air Classics Museum of Aviation
43W624 US Route 30
Sugar Grove, IL 60554
Phone: (630) 466-0888
Web site supported by: Roth's Consulting
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