KerbalX

The Republic F-105 Thunderchief

True to Republic’s legacy with the P-47 Thunderbolt, their first supersonic fighter jet was beefy, mean, and rugged. The F-105, when fully loaded, was the heaviest single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft ever built. It was designed to be a penetration fighter which could go in on the deck, pack a bigger punch than the lighter interceptors and light fighters, and then get out alive.

However, the world of air combat had changed, and not in the F-105s favor. Automated air defenses, radars, heavier-hitting AA guns and air-to-air missiles, combined with nimble, small MiGs led to an abysmal loss rate. This ultimately led the Thunderchief to be the only U.S. Aircraft pulled from frontline service due to unacceptable loss rates.

The F-105 was ultimately vindicated by its SEADS variant, the EF-105F. This is better known as the Wild Weasel variant, designed to take out air defenses allowing the Thud to escort other strike aircraft to the target and get them out safe.

Details

• Type: SPH
• Class: aircraft
• Part Count: 286
• Pure Stock

The Century Series

This F-105 was the replica which sparked this return to the Century Series. I was originally just going to do the F-105 here, but I felt that it wasn’t exciting enough to carry the new year. Because of that, you get not one, but four new planes today to fly.

F-100
F-101 RF-101
F-102
F-104
F-105 - Here
F-106

Cheers, and here’s to another year of progress!