Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-105>HA2505
F-105D-25-RE "61-0183" 6441 TFW, Takhli RTAFB, 1965 "Operation Look-Alike"
General Background
The Republic F-105 Thunderchief first entered service in 1958. It had been designed for high-speed low-level penetration to deliver a nuclear bomb but was converted to deliver conventional payloads. It was the heaviest U.S. single-engined fighter ever made and could carry a greater bomb load than the B-17, B-24 or B-29. Best known for its action in Vietnam the F-105 flew over 20,000 combat missions with the loss of 382 aircraft out of the 833 produced.
The Aircraft
In the early 1960’s the USAF began “Operation Look Alike”. All aircraft needed to look alike but they couldn’t decide which camo pattern. So they ordered all special unit markings removed and natural metal aircraft to be painted with a silver lacquer. Aircraft 61-0183 was one of eighty F-105D-25-RE series that was equipped with conventional warfare modifications. On July 6, 1973, 61-0183 was sent to MASDC (Military Aircraft Storage & Disposition Center) for storage as #FK0001 and was scrapped in 1984.
Specifications :
| Nick Names: | Ultra Hog, Super Hog, Iron Butterfly, Lead Sled, Thud |
| Role: | Fighter/Bomber |
| User Countries: | U.S.A |
| Crew: | (1) pilot |
| Performance | |
| Engine: | (1) Pratt & Whitney J75-P-19W turbojet, rated at 17,200 lb.s.t. dry and 26,500 lb.s.t. with afterburner |
| Maximum Speed: | 1,420 mph at 38,000 ft |
| 1,372 mph at 36,000 ft | |
| 1,122 mph at 50,000 ft | |
| 836 mph at sea level | |
| Stall speed: | 208 mph |
| Initial Climb Rate: | 34,500 fpm (clean) |
| Service Ceiling: | 32,100 ft |
| Combat Ceiling: | 48,500 ft |
| Maximum Ceiling: | 50,000 ft |
| Combat Range: | 778 miles |
| Maximum Range with full external fuel: | 2,208 miles |
| Weight | |
| Emptyt: | 27,500 lbs |
| Combat: | 35,637 lbs |
| Gross: | 48,400 lbs |
| Maximum Take/Off: | 352,546 lbs |
| Fuel | |
| Normal Internal Fuel Load: | 1,160 US gallons |
| Internal Weapons Bay: | 390 US gallon auxiliary tank |
| Optional 450 or 650 US gallon external tanks on the fuselage centerline | |
| Plus a 450 US gallon tank on each of the inboard under-wing pylons | |
| Dimensions | |
| Wing Span: | 34 ft 11 in. |
| Length: | 64 ft 3 in. |
| Height: | 19 ft 8 in. |
| Wing Area: | 385 sq. ft. |
| Armament: | (1) 20-mm M61A1 rotary cannon with 1028 rounds (fire rate 6,000 rpm) |
| Up to 8,000 lbs of ordnance could be carried in the internal weapons bay | |
| An additional 6,000 lbs of ordnance could be carried on (4) under-wing pylons and (1) rack under the fuselage center-line | |
| Up to (4) AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles for self-defense | Up to (4) AGM-12 Bullpup (not very effective in Vietnam) | (1) Mk 28 or Mk 43 nuclear weapon |
| Up to (2) 3,000 lb bombs | |
| Up to (5) 1,000 lb bombs | |
| Up to (16) 750 lb bombs | |
| Mk 77 napalm, ECM pods, 2.75 in. rockets |