Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-105>HA2515
F-105D Thunderchief "Cherry Girl" 61-0069, Vietnam War, 1967
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
Republic F-105D was built in 1961 with serial 61-0069 and c/n D264. The aircraft spent
the next 3 years as a test aircraft. On March 23, 1967 F-105D joined the 469th
TFS/388th TFW at Korat RTAFB, Thailand. On June 3, 1967 Captain Larry Wiggins with
“Cherry Girl” painted on top of the nose damaged a MiG-17 with an AIM-9 missile and
finished the job with his 20mm gun. Soon after the aircraft returned to the U.S.A. and
ended its active service on a pedestal at the SAC Museum in Nebraska.
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 |