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The F-105 Thunderchief on display in the SPH.
- I included the
aka
in the craft name since it was a popular nickname for the plane and so plane enthusiasts who know it can find it. - I tried to add the airbrakes in the back. According to War Thunder and pictures I found on the internet, the real Thunderchief’s afterburner could open up and function as an airbrake. However, I decided to scrap that idea since my attempts to add them proved useless. At least I included a drag chute (but I didn’t really test that part).
- The air intakes were a rather interesting challenge. They were not only positioned right where the wings were attached to the fuselage, but they were angled to go outward.
- To maintain aesthetic, I chose a Panther engine for this craft. However, part of me wanted to go with a Whiplash for performance since most of my other replicas that used Panthers did not do so well.
The Thunderchief ascending to cruising altitude at quite a steep angle. It was approaching Mach 1 when the pilot decided to speed up his ascent.
- The sad part is that, unlike its real-life counterpart, this plane never made it past Mach 1.
Settling at a cruising altitude after the initial ascent.
Real-life Counterpart Performance Stats
(F-105D Thunderchief)
- Maximum Speed: 1,390 mph (621 m/s)
- Cruising Speed: 778 mph (348 m/s)
- Service Ceiling: 51,000 feet (15.5 km)
- Range: 2,206 miles (3,550 km)
Source: Air Force Museum Website
Historic footage of the famous F-105 named the Baikerbanur Bombshell II cruising over Kerbin’s desert. It is currently on display in the Super-Cool Aircraft Museum.
- The original Baikerbanur Bombshell was a B-17 Flying Fortress that participated in the Second Imperial Wars - and is also on display in the Super-Cool Aircraft Museum. However, the F-105 did not get nearly as much fame as the B-17.
- Just like in real life, the Baikerbanur Bomshell II could carry more bombs than its namesake predecessor from the Second Imperial Wars.
Details
- Type: SPH
- Class: aircraft
- Part Count: 43
- Pure Stock
- KSP: 1.12.5
Description
The Republic F-105 Thunderchief, commonly known as the “Thud” by its crews, was an American supersonic fighter-bomber tailored for high-speed low-altitude penetration. Entering service in 1958, it was capable of Mach 2 and could carry a bomb load greater than some WWII-era heavy bombers such as the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-24 Liberator. The Thunderchief conducted most strike bombing missions during the early years of the Vietnam War, but it had to be removed from combat due to high loss rates. F-105s were America’s primary attack aircraft delivering heavy bomb loads against various enemy targets, while two-seat variants were used against Soviet-built surface-to-air missile defense systems.
It was later replaced as a strike aircraft over North Vietnam by the F-4 Phantom II and the F-111 Aardvark. After the conflict ended, the United States Air Force began transferring remaining F-105s to Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units. By the late 1970s, the Thunderchief was becoming difficult to maintain, leading to their eventual retirement in 1984.
A stock aircraft called F-105 Thunderchief (aka Thud). Built with 43 of the finest parts, its root part is Mark2Cockpit.
Built in the SPH in KSP version 1.12.5.
The Thunderchief ending its test cruise after 43 minutes of flying at full throttle and only 30 fuel units left.
Old photograph of an unknown pilot walking out of his F-105 after landing.
RECOMMENDED CRUISE
Altitude: 10.9 km (~35.8k ft; Class Alpha airspace)
Velocity: 290 m/s (~649 mph)
- Ended at 320 m/s (~716 mph) when at full throttle
Flight time: ~43 minutes
EXPECTED RANGE
760 km before immediate landing necessary
