Republic Aviation Corporation's F-105 Thunderchief ("Thud") Fighter - Bomber cockpit instrument panels and flight instruments

After more then three decades as one of the leading aircraft manufacturers, Republic Aviation Corporation's activities have expanded to cover a wide spectrum of advanced aircraft, electronics and space system development and procedures.

To illustrate Republic's diversified interests, the company is now engaged in the production of the F-105D Thunderchief, and a two-place version of this versatile Mach-2 all-weather fighter-bomber, the F-105F, and in research projects ranging from a major study of space re-entry problems to space environment and life sciences research, development of advanced scientific satellites, space propulsion systems and revolutionary metalurgical, communications and hydraulics developments.

In the past year, work on 51 research and development contracts, including 13 for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, was conducted at Republic as part of the continued development efforts fostered by the comapny since its founding in 1931 as the Seversky Aircraft Corporation.

Since that founding with a handful of employees, Republic has grown ta an industrial city of 18,000 scientists, engineers, techniciens and production specialists working in 60 buildings on 535 acres of ground at Farmingdale, Long Island.

Since 1931, Republic has produced nearly 25,000 aircraft. Its renowned family of military aircraft has progressed from the 230-mph P-35 fighter of the thrities, to the famed P-47 Thunderbolt flown by air forces of six allied nations during World War II, the F-84G Thunderjet which bore the brunt of combat in the Korean War, the F-84FThunderstreak fighter-bomber and RF-84F Thunderflsh reconnaissance aircraft,workhorses of the air arms of 14 western nations, and the versatile F-105, the world's first Mach-2 all-weather figther-bomber now in service with the USAF in Europe, the U.S. and the Far East.

The evolution of Republic aircraft development continues today with pioneering work in a unique design for a strike-reconnaissance fighter combining the capability for vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL)and the versatility of the variable-geometry wing which can be extended for slow, loiter missions or withdrawn to a delta-like shape for Mach-1 low-level or Mach-2 high altitude missions.

Other aeronautical programs under study and in various forms of development at Republic include controls research for Mach-2 supersonic transport, studies of a lightweight fighter-bomber for limited war applications, of a high-speed interceptor and of what has been called the "aerospace plane". While much of this aircraft is classified, it can be reported that it would be capable of taking off as conventional aircraft, then accelerating to orbital speeds to circle the Earth and perform missions anywhere over the globe. Its speed would be about 25 times that of sound.

In addition, Republic has dramatically expanded its efforts in space-oriented research and development, including the addition to its facilities of the $14 million Paul Moore Research and Development Center. The many capabilities of the center have generated more than 60 research contracts, including some in 30 new technical areas. Some of these activities are:

• Production of Project Fire spacecraft, the first of which is scheduled for launching this year to study the effects of re-entry into the earth's atmosphere on a space vehicle travelling at 25,000 miles per hour - the speed a spacecraft returning from the moon would be travelling when it re-entered the earth's atmosphere.
• Development of a Synchronous Meteorological Satellite (SMS) system consisting of a number of spacecraft each parked at a fixed point relative to the earth at an altitude of 22,240 miles and capable of providing continuous observation of weather patterns and quicker detection, warning and tracking of storms or hurricanes on a global basis.
• Design of an advanced orbiting Solar Observatory (AOSO) a precisely stabilized earth satellite equipped to conduct a wide variety of solar-physics experiments essential to manned lunar vehicle missions.
• Production of sub-assemblies for the Saturn rocket.
• Advanced work on the revolutionary magnetic induction gyroscope and pinch plasma engine programs, and space environment and life sciences research.

The Republic F-105D Thunderchief, the world's first Mach-2 fighter-bomber capable of operation in any weather or visibility conditions, has added a new dimension to the tactical air power of the U.S. Air Force.

The versatile Thunderchief, capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear weapons, is the latest in a long line of renowned fighter-bombers developed by Republic Aviation Corporation during its more than three decades as one of the United States' leading aviation and aerospace industries.

A descendant of Republic's famed P-47 Thunderbolt of World War II and the F-84F Thunderstreak now serving with the air forces of 14 countries of the Free World, the Thunderchief is operated by Tactical Air Command units in the United States and the U.S. Aris Forces in Europe and the Pacific. Since 1955, Thunderchiefs have logged some 138,489 hours of flight, equivalent to 7,700 trips around the world.

A new two-place version of the Thunderchief, designated the F-105F, is scheduled for delivery to the U.S. Air Force later this year. The F-105F will have the same mission capabilities of the single-seat F-105D and is expected to greatly strengthen pilot mission training programs.

Use of the two-seat F-105F is expected to provide twice as much pilot time per hour of flight and to eliminate the need for use of non-combatant jet trainers and chase planes during training.

The F-105 is the first tactical aircraft designed to incorporate the ideas and recommendations of the men who operate it - pilots and operations and logistics experts of the Tactical Air Command.

Its speed, which tops 1,400 miles per hour (2,240 km per hour), its maneuverability and its aerial firepower have qualified it for some 15 different types of missions in either limited or general war situations.

The F-105 can operate as a fighter-bomber in close support of any ground troops. Its ability to climb from a standstill to 8,200 feet at supersonic speeds in 55 seconds augment its role as an interceptor for air defense operations. Its more than 2000 mile range, without refueling, and global range, with mid-air refueling, highlights its capability as a bomber.

The size of the Thunderchief permits it to carry up to six tons of weapons, surpassing the payload of any previous tactical aircraft. An almost unlimited choice of weapons combinations can be carried, ranging from sixteen 750-pound bombs to Sidewinder missiles for air-to-air combat and Bullpup air-to-ground missilesand napalm fire bombs for close support of ground troops.

The Thunderchief's firepower also includes the lethal Vulcan automatic 20-millimeter cannon, capable of firing 6,000 rounds per minute, resulting in each impacting with a force equivalent to an auto traveling at 450 miles per hour smashing into a brick wall.

An integrated navigational, fire control and flight control system gives the F-105D its all-weather capability. This highly advanced system allows a pilot to take off, fly to the target and release convetional or nuclear weapons without ever seeing the ground.

The Thunderchief's electronics systems, proven in more than 100,000 operational flying hours, has provided an around-the-clock capability never before possible with previous aircraft.

Operating the Thunderchief in Europe are the 49th and 36th Tactical Fighter Wings of 17th Air Force, the operational arm of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe. A squadron of F-105B Thunderchiefs, equipped for air defense interceptor missions, was recently assigned to Moron Air Base, Spain, on rotational duty from the Tactical Air Command's 4th Tactical Fighter Wing based at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, South Carolina.

The F-105D and F-105F are part of a wide range of advanced aircraft and space system programs under way at Republic, including development of a dramatic new concept in tactical strike-reconnaissance aircraft which combines vertical take-off and landing capabilities with a variable geometry wing.