RAF Thunderchiefs

[sideshowbob9]

Hi everybody, long time lurker, 1st time poster. I've been visiting this site for years and I decided it was time to finally join my fellow Whiffers.

Amongst the seemingly millions of other projects I have ongoing at the moment are a number of RAF Thuds. I've recently moved and am still trying to get organised so no pix at the moment but I'll hopefully have some in the next week or so.

Anyway, to make up for the lack of piccies, I've written a bit of backstory for the S.1D variant with a hint of what's to come:

Republic F-105K Thunderchief S.1D
Aircraft Notes: The culmination of the Thunderchiefs progressive entry into RAF service, the S.1D had a number of improvements over its rather more austere predecessor, the S.1A. Firstly, it featured an additional small dorsal intake for its hungry R-R Olympus 28. This would be the first step in an ongoing saga to increase the thrust of the engine in the Thunderchief's long career in the RAF.
The second step, also a new feature of the S.1D was to incorporate water-injection to the "Oly". The storage tanks were built into bullet fairings over the intakes.
In-flight refuelling capability was also provided for by a retractable probe being fitted along the port nose. The RAF Thuds were the only ones to lack the ability to refuel via the boom method (with the exception of the low hours F-105F/Gs bought straight from U.S. boneyards in the early 80s).
The S.1Ds (predictably referred to as "Sids" by ground crew) were finally fitted with the Red Caress ECM system which had originally been developed for the cancelled F-111Ks. Though prone to overheating, the Red Caress was arguably the best RWR/Jammer combination of the period.
Finally, the S.1Ds were fitted with the GA/LLRI or Gust Alleviation/Low-Level Ride Improvement system, referred to by many as "Gallery". This comprised of a down-turned, full-chord winglet on each wing not dissimilar to those found on the abortive TSR.2. These were able to deflect to a small degree to alleviate gusts and smooth out the aircraft's handling at very low level and high speeds. In practice, while the system was effective, it was very maintenance intensive and caused several headaches on overseas deployments. As such, GA/LLRI was not installed on the GR.3 or subsequent marks.

In Part 2, we'll take a look at the GR.3 series and the RAF's assorted attempts to improve the Thunderchief's thrust, wing area and sensors.

Then in Part 3, we'll see how the USAF's F-105Fs & Gs enjoyed a second life as the RAF's FGR.5 & 5As and how they performed through two Gulf Wars....

....then, in an exciting conclusion, we'll discover Republic's and BAC's little known twin-engined Thunderchief variant, the F-105M Thundermaster FGR.1.

Cue naff documentary music etc.

What'd'ya think?

Oh, by the way, no Leafy Roundels or Spats were harmed in the making of this post 

[Thorvic]

Sounds good, look forward to seeing the builds 

Whats going to be your base kit for these Thud projects ?

G

[sideshowbob9]

For the S.1D, a Monogram 1/48 F-105D. I have about 13 F-105s of various scales in all 

[ChernayaAkula]

Any Thud Whif will get my attention!    Can't wait for the pics. Really like the back story.

So, I'm all ears...

[noxioux]

Excellent idea.  I too anxiously await the builds. . .

[BlackOps]

SB9, glad you've decided to delurk...       Sounds like a cool project, look forward to seeing pics when ya get to that point. 

[sideshowbob9]

I should have the pics up on Sunday. In the meantime, I'll put up the backstory for the other variants.
As for the builds, the FGR.5 is pretty much done but all the others are WIPs.

Love the De-Lurk smilie by the way 

Republic F-105K Thunderchief T.2
These were in fact unmodified F-105Cs that retained their J-75 engines and U.S. avionics. A squadron was attached to the 56th TFW at Luke AFB, where basic flight training was accomplished. Trainees would then proceed to RAF Scampton, where experienced QWIs of 228 OCU (64 Sqn.) would complete their training on the S.1 and later the GR.3.


Republic F-105K Thunderchief GR.3D
The Thunderchief GR.3D CAS variant was actually developed by accident. A mid-air collision in 1981, along the German border, between an East German Il-102 and a Thunderchief GR.3A, ZA509, resulted in the Thud, minus a large portion of its nose, making an emergency landing at RAF Laarbruch.  Ill-equipped to repair this interloper, the station being home to Harriers and Jaguars at the time, and with mounting NATO-Soviet tensions meaning no Thud ground crews could be spared, the aircraft was placed into storage.

As this "warm" period dragged on into weeks (and later months), a cabal of Jaguar crew chiefs decided to furnish a new nose for the Thud from a written off Jaguar. At the same time, some bright sparks (pun intended) finally integrated the LRMTS in the Jag's nose into the Thud's avionics. This, in addition to the GR.3A's photo-reconnaissance and IR Linescan gear, created the ultimate battlefield reconnaissance Thud. Not to be outdone, a group of Harrier crews, who had field repaired more than one would-be wreck back into airworthiness, elected to replace the Thud's "wacky" intakes with something a bit more substantial. With a pair of Harrier intakes grafted on and trunking fabricated to pass the intake air to the engine, the "Creature of Laarbruch" was complete.

When a Thud crew arrived to claim their wayward bird, they almost died of shock. A Jaguar pilot who was ex-Thuds was found to flight test the Creature. He found it to be relatively vice free, if  a bit draggier than its brethren. Despite the increased airflow, the additional trunking ensured that the Olympus 28A did not choke. In fact it lapped up the additional air, resulting in a very slight increase in thrust.

A more official evaluation found that the Creature did indeed have merit. 40 GR.3As were so upgraded, as these lacked the radar noses of the GR.3 & GR.3C (the GR.3B was equipped with a SLAR) and so could have the LRMTS fitted. This was accomplished with a modified Thunderchief nose however, rather than a grafted Jaguar nose, making ZA509 unique. The GR.3D served in the Battlefield/Close Air Support role for several years with distinction and were not retired until their triumphant return from Kosovo in 1999.

ZA509 is preserved as a gate guardian at RAF Laarbruch in the 63 Sqn. colours it wore during the 1986 Finnish Crisis.


Republic F-105K Thunderchief GR.3E
The GR.3E was originally conceived as a somewhat hasty attempt by BAe, in co-operation with Fairchild-Republic, to extend the range of the Thud so that more Black Buck style operations to the Falklands could be achieved by strike fighters rather than strategic bombers. In the end this proved unnecessary, as Chile graciously hosted the V-Force in exchange for a few Victors being left behind as "gate guardians". The goal of extending the Thuds range for deep strike missions was a worthy one however, and so the 3E was born.

The redesign featured increased chord wings, bringing much needed  area to the Thud's somewhat anaemic wings. It also featured two dorsal conformal fuel tanks, akin to General Dynamics abortive attempt to turn their F-16 lightweight fighter into a long-range striker, greatly increasing range. An added benefit of the structural strengthening these brought was the new dorsal weapons carriage capability. Unlike the Lightnings and Jaguars however, the Thud's pylons were canted outward, giving it a very aggressive posture. They were also rated to carry the AGM-45 Shrike for defence suppression missions.

The deployment of two squadrons of these long-range machines at RAF Bruggen in 1985 caused a great deal of consternation in the Soviet High Command.


Republic F-105K Thunderchief FGR.5 & FGR.5A
In 1980, the RAF bought 40 surplus F-105Fs and 15 F-105Gs from the USAF. Extensively reworked, the first FGR.5 did not emerge for it's 1st flight at BAe Warton until 1986. All 55 aircraft had been brought up to a common standard, with the exception of the 10 FGR.5As which differed by having reconnaissance equipment in the nose as opposed to radar. Like the GR.3As before them, this included cameras, IR Linescan or SLAR. Unlike the GR.3As however, provision was made for the M61 20mm cannon to be moved from its position in the otherwise occupied nose to a pod underneath the nose, similar to that of the F-4E's, so that both radar and recce-nosed aircraft could retain a strafing capability.

During Gulf War I, the FGR.5s hastily had the Pave Spike laser designator pod integrated, provided invaluable precision strike capability to the Coalition. Paveway LGBs, the MW-1 munitions dispenser and buddy refuelling capability were other additions. The runway denial mission with the MW-1 in particular, proved to be extremely hazardous as it required the aircraft to remain straight and level over the invariably heavily defended airfield. Several times, a Thud returned to its home airfield with newly acquired ventilation. Losses however, were mercifully light.

In Gulf War II, the FGR.5s, having outlasted their GR.3 cousins and approaching retirement themselves, were granted an Indian summer. With U.S. forces introducing the JDAM, the RAF was given 100 obsolete GBU-15s as a gift to hang in their stockings (for stocking read Thud). These were put to excellent use in both Iraq and Afghanistan, particularly the latter's mountainous regions, where heavy strike fighters were less likely to cause collateral damage. In particular, the ECR.6 sensor, FGR.5 shooter pairing proved a winning combination.

In these conditions however, the Thuds quickly began to run out of airframe life. In 2005, the last FGR.5A was retired to become a gate guardian at RAF Alconbury. It's replacement is the BAE Systems Tempest FGR.1, a much enlarged and improved successor to BAe's EAP.


Republic F-105K Thunderchief ECR.6
The ECR.6 was the swansong of the Thunderchief in RAF service. An extensively modified GR.3 optimised for the defence suppression or "Wild Weasel" role, the ECR.6 was not retired until December 2008. At the time of writing one remained on strength at Boscombe Down for avionics testing for the new Tempest/Taranis combination that represents the future of the RAF's combat power.

Development of the ECR.6 began in 1989 but the 1st flight of the prototype was not until January 1992. The ECR.6 featured an enlarged spine containing the new avionics, as well as various receivers that make up the Red Weaver "Emitter Prosecution System". The system was capable of automatically detecting, locating and identifying a signal, whether it be an early warning, SAM guidance, or even an airborne radar and recommending a weapon to prosecute it's source. With the introduction of JTIDS in 2004, it could even cue an off-board shooter to prosecute the target without any communication between pilots.

Invaluable during Gulf War II and the subsequent conflicts, the ECR.6 was even able (after modification by L-3 Systems) to detect and locate cellphone emissions and was instrumental in decapitating the insurgent command in Afghanistan.


Republic F-105M Thundermaster FGR.1
The Thundermaster was an extensively modified Thunderchief, intended to improve upon the Thud's already prodigious deep penetration strike abilities. Essentially what the FB-111A was to the F-111, the Thundermaster was to the Thunderchief. Development occurred parallel to the introduction of the Thud S.1 into service. The biggest change was the replacement of the single Olympus 28 with two R-R Speys. Although the Oly proved very reliable in service for more than three decades, the RAF's two engine safety policy ensured that at least one attempt at a two-engined Thud be made.

The two Fieri intakes were filled in to give a contiguous leading edge and a single large ventral intake was designed to replace them. The internal bomb bay was thus deleted but this allowed internal fuel to be dramatically increased, both where the bomb bay had been and  in the now vacant wing roots. The wing itself was strengthened and given extended tips to accommodate two additional hardpoints and increase lift. Two more hardpoints were placed below the wing roots to carry the special weapons. The bulged rear fuselage for the two jet pipes necessitated a change to a low-mounted cruciform tail.

In practice, the significantly increased wetted area from the ventral intake and extended wing-tips dramatically increased drag but this was felt to be offset by the increase in internal fuel and increased thrust offered by two engines.

The changing nature of the RAF's nuclear deterrent throughout the 1970s, with the introduction of Thor III MRBMs and the Skybolt ALBM toting VC-10 B.1s, saw the RAF's fighters take on more of a conventional role. This, it was decided, could be just as easily accomplished with a "tweaked" Thunderchief and so the need for the Thundermaster evaporated and the Thunderchief GR.3 was born. Production of Thundermasters was curtailed to 24, barely enough for two squadrons. In 1985, the 22 that remained were sold off to India during a period of escalation in that nations arms race with Pakistan.

Although overtaken by events, the Thundermaster is not to be considered a failure in RAF service. The presence of one squadron at RNAS Lossiemouth during a period of increased tensions with the USSR in 1978 deterred a Kiev CBG from breaking out into the Atlantic with a spectacular low-level 12-ship formation flypast of the group. The implications of the 4 AJ.168 Martels hanging from the wings of each as they flew past at flight deck height was not lost on the Soviet Admiral. The following year, the Thundermaster would also have a deterrent effect when 21 were deployed to Singapore during the PRC's attempt to cajole the British government into returning Hong Kong early.

That's the lot....honest 

[sideshowbob9]

Righto, here goes nothing!

S.1D WIP




Thundermaster VERY WIP





FGR.5



ECR.6



GR.3E





More can be found at
http://s428.photobucket.com/albums/qq5/sideshowbob9/Models/


Hope they're something of interest.

[pyro-manic]

Looking good so far - I'm liking all the extra lumps and bumps. The Thundermaster should be a looker when it's finished!

[John Howling Mouse]

Wow!  We have another Fearless Basher!  Cool.  I look forward to your work.   

[sideshowbob9]

Not sure about "Fearless", how about Mildly Unconcerned Basher?

Here's some piccies of some other projects, just to show I can complete a project....almost....

[B777LR]

The FST AWACS is cool. Its a shame nobody ever did a conversion of the Heller AWACS into the original concept...

[Scooterman]

That Tiger Meet Backfire is the schnizle!!!!!

[sotoolslinger]

EXCELLENT INTRO . Very cool stuff dude.

[nev]

SEAC Victor is a thing of beauty!