Rumor in ? Of a 105 Thunderchief to Fly
Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:24 pm
Greetings
I know that if any where Rumor can be either be made or Busted it is this Forum. I was told by some one that is not inportant to know. That the Collins Foundation has obtained a 105 thunderchief and is going to restore it to fly? I called BS on this . But just to make sure I ask the ?
Futher more it would be awsome to see one fly . But I still call BS at this time do to the fact that none are in civilan hand. is this correct or do I stand corrected ?
As always thanks to every one that has responed to my poastings.
I know that if any where Rumor can be either be made or Busted it is this Forum. I was told by some one that is not inportant to know. That the Collins Foundation has obtained a 105 thunderchief and is going to restore it to fly? I called BS on this . But just to make sure I ask the ?
Futher more it would be awsome to see one fly . But I still call BS at this time do to the fact that none are in civilan hand. is this correct or do I stand corrected ?
As always thanks to every one that has responed to my poastings.
Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:36 pm
As of last December they were trying to obtain an F-105 to return to airworthy status as part of the Foundation's "Vietnam Memorial Flight."
Last edited by warbirdguy on Sat Aug 04, 2007 12:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:59 pm
The chosen aircraft was vandalised at AMARC under the direction of the NMUSAF during the Christmas holidays. It was turned over to Evergreen for display in Oregon, to be forever static.
It, however was not the only candidate, just the best of the bunch.
It, however was not the only candidate, just the best of the bunch.
Sat Aug 04, 2007 1:34 am
You will have to go and recant your calling it BS on line. : )
At least, when it comes to an F-105 in private hands.
There is an AFAIK, privately owned F-105 in Texas, but as your original posting stated, the owner is not important to know. Saw it myself, and shot some photos of it.
At the owners' request, no further data was to be provided, and I have been honoring his request since 2001.
Saludos,
Tulio
At least, when it comes to an F-105 in private hands.
There is an AFAIK, privately owned F-105 in Texas, but as your original posting stated, the owner is not important to know. Saw it myself, and shot some photos of it.
At the owners' request, no further data was to be provided, and I have been honoring his request since 2001.
Saludos,
Tulio
Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:32 am
I will be more than glad to be corrected on this as to the Fact that the Thud was one of my Fav Viet area Jets 
I hope that C. F. can get one to fly or for that matter any one just to see it Fly with the F-4 By the way is my all time Fav Jet 
Thank you for clearing that up. I will go get ready to get some Crow ! with all the trimmings 
I hope that C. F. can get one to fly or for that matter any one just to see it Fly with the F-4 By the way is my all time Fav Jet Thank you for clearing that up. I will go get ready to get some Crow ! with all the trimmings
Sat Aug 04, 2007 9:14 am
Yanks Air Museum, is restoring F-105D 59-1759 to fly again as well.
Shay
____________
Semper Fortis
Shay
____________
Semper Fortis
Sat Aug 04, 2007 7:19 pm
I was just checking the Yanks Air Museum website to see if there was any updates on 59-1759. But i see no mention at all, of the F-105.
Can anybody have confimation on the Thundercheif's where abouts?
Shay
____________
Semper Fortis
Can anybody have confimation on the Thundercheif's where abouts?
Shay
____________
Semper Fortis
Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:27 pm
I don't remember seeing an F-105 there when I visited in May. And seeing that the majority of Yanks rebuilds are not subsequently flown, I fail to see that they can state that their rebuilds are 'to airworthy'. "If it don't fly, it ain't airworthy". Period.
Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:59 pm
OK the PBY is a favorite, but the F-105 is up there...perhaps the most historic jet for me, though flight wise an F-86 is probably more achievable...
The Yanks aircraft is a unique survivor, and is really a "Thunderstick II", the all weather modification of the F-105. As far as I know there were only 30D's retrofitted with this modification.
The Thunderchief is not under a restoration to fly, it is currently stored.
Yanks however has accomplished a huge amount and bears watching. Their collection is nothing short of amazing at this stage.
Now was this aircraft coded RE with the 44TFS in country?
The Yanks aircraft is a unique survivor, and is really a "Thunderstick II", the all weather modification of the F-105. As far as I know there were only 30D's retrofitted with this modification.
The Thunderchief is not under a restoration to fly, it is currently stored.
Yanks however has accomplished a huge amount and bears watching. Their collection is nothing short of amazing at this stage.
Now was this aircraft coded RE with the 44TFS in country?
Last edited by Joe Scheil on Sat Aug 04, 2007 9:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sat Aug 04, 2007 9:20 pm
Requiem For A Heavyweight
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE STANDARD JOKE AROUND THE BAR IN THE OFFICER'S CLUB IN THE EARLY SIXTIES WOULD GO SOMETHING LIKE THIS: AN F-4 DRIVER WOULD RAISE HIS VOICE AND DEMAND, "WHAT'S THE SOUND AN F-105 MAKES WHEN IT HITS THE GROUND?" CAME THE ROUSING CHORUS RESPONSE, "THUD!!!" NUMEROUS CHORTLES, SNICKERS, AND GUFFAWS.
"THUD" - THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED NAMES IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN AVIATION. SHE WAS CALLED A LOT OF THINGS THEN...HYPER-HOG, ULTRA LEAD SLED, ULTRA HOG. DROP FORGED BY REPUBLIC AVIATION AND A LOT MORE NAMES THAT ARE UNPRINTABLE. NO ONE EVER CALLED THE F-105 BY HER OFFICIAL NAME "THUNDERCHIEF", EXCEPT THE PRESS. SHE WAS ONE BIG JOKE EARLY IN THAT DECADE. SHE WAS TO ALL, THAT IS, EXCEPT THOSE OF US WHO FLEW HER.
BUT, "THUD" STUCK. AND WE THUD CREWS JUST SMILED A KNOWING SMILE AND QUIETLY CONTINUED SEPARATING THE GIN FROM THE ICE. WE KNEW SOMETHING THE OTHERS DIDN'T. SHE WAS ONE OF A KIND. SHE WAS AS STABLE AS A SWISS FRANC AND SHE COULD HIT. SHE COULD HIT WITH THE GATLIN GUN AND SHE COULD HIT WITH BOMBS - LOTS OF BOMBS. SHE HAD LONG LEGS AT LOW ALTITUDE. SHE WAS FAST. IT WAS VERY EASY TO GO FAST WITH HER - ESPECIALLY ON THE DECK. AND NOBODY ELSE COULD GO THAT FAST.
THEN WE WERE PRESENTED WITH VIETNAM AND WE FOUND OUT SOME OTHER THINGS.
FROM 1966 TO 1968 SHE WAS THE ONE TO CARRY THE BIG IRON DOWNTOWN. SHE WASN'T EXACTLY DESIGNED FOR IT, BUT THUDS HAULED 75% OF THE SMASH CARRIED DOWN ROUTE PACK SIX. AND IN COMBAT, SHE MAINTAINED A 90 PERCENT IN-COMMISSION RATE.
MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE SHE WAS USED TO TAKING HITS FROM ANYONE AND EVERYONE, FOR WE FOUND OUT THAT SHE COULD TAKE OTHER KINDS OF HITS, THE REAL KIND, AS WELL, AND STILL FLY. AS AN EXAMPLE, NUMBERS 0512 AND 0376 (TWO DASH TENS) TOOK DIRECT SAM HITS AFT AND CAME BACK HOME. SO DID 0167 (A DASH FIVE), RETURNING WITH THE ENTIRE RIGHT STABILATOR SHOT OFF.
BUT SHE WASN'T PERFECT. NO REAL LADY IS. SHE COULDN'T TURN WORTH A darn. WE FOUND THAT OUT EARLY ON IN USAFE; ANYTIME WE TRIED TO ENGAGE A HUNTER OR A MARK SIX. WE FIGURED EVEN A FRISBEE WOULD OUTTURN THE THUD.
TO IMPROVE HER CHANCES IN THE AIR COMBAT ARENA, THERE WAS A PROPOSAL IN 1967 TO UPGRADE EACH THUD BY EXTENDING ITS WINGS 18 INCHES; REMOVING THE DUCT PLUGS AND DEPLACEMENT GEAR TO DECREASE WEIGHT; INCREASING INTERNAL FUEL CAPACITY BY SEALING THE BOMBAY; INSTALLING A LARGER TANK; INCREASING THRUST BY 5000 POUNDS; AND ADDING OTHER COMBAT IMPROVEMENTS.
AH, WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN! SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SUPER THUD!!
SHE DIDN'T ALWAYS COME BACK. SHE DIED A LOT. HER CORPSES LINE THUD RIDGE, HANOI, THANH HOA, AND A LOT OF OTHER PLACES UP NORTH. SHE WROTE THE EPITAPH FOR A LOT OF GOOD MEN LIKE KARL RICHTER. OVER HALF THE INVENTORY WAS GONE BY THE END OF 1968; MOST LOST IN COMBAT.
SHE BECAME A LEGEND AND LEGENDS FLEW HER. ROBBIE RISNER, KARL RICHTER AND LEO THORSNESS, TO MENTION A FEW. SHE WAS FLOWN BY OTHER GREATS SUCH AS DAVE WALDROP, BILLY SPARKS, AND PETE FOLEY. AND SHE WAS HANDLED BY MANY UNKNOWNS LIKE BOB GERLACH, JIM STILES, AND ME.
AS A WEASEL, SHE REIGNED SUPREME. SHE KILLED SAM SITES, SAMS, MIGS, AND EARNED THE MEDAL OF HONOR FOR TWO MEN; LEO THORSNESS AND MERLYN DETHLEFSEN.
THE THUD PILED UP THOUSANDS OF COMBAT HOURS ON EACH BIRD AND SHE WAS SAID TO BE WEARY AND WORN OUT. BUT ASK ANY F-15 DRIVER WHO TRIED TO PACE HER AT LOW ALTITUDE DURING RED FLAG 80-2. IT WAS "CHECK TWELVE, TURKEY", AND I'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU AT THE CLUB BACK AT NELLIS. SHE'S THE ONLY BIRD I KNOW THAT CAN GIVE YOU "THE BIRD" WHETHER PARKED ON THE RAMP, TAXIING OUT, OR IN-FLIGHT.
SHE ENTERED THE INVENTORY ON 26 MAY 58 AND ON 12 JULY 1980, SHE MADE HER LAST SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL AIR FORCE FLIGHT AT GEORGE AFB BEFORE GOING ON FOR A BRIEF STINT WITH THE GUARD AND RESERVE.
SHE STAYS WITH US AS AN AMERICAN CLASSIC AND A REAL THOROUGHBRED. SHE COULD BREAK YOUR BACK BUT NEVER YOUR HEART. SHE IS GENUINELY LOVED BY ALL WHO FLEW HER AND A LOT WHO DIDN'T.
THE EPITAPH FOR ANOTHER AMERICAN LEGEND, JOHN WAYNE, "FEO, FUERTEY FORMAL" FITS THE F-105:
SHE WAS UGLY, SHE WAS STRONG, BUT SHE HAD DIGNITY.
By Blake Morrison
F-105 pilot and Editor, Fighter Weapons Review
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE STANDARD JOKE AROUND THE BAR IN THE OFFICER'S CLUB IN THE EARLY SIXTIES WOULD GO SOMETHING LIKE THIS: AN F-4 DRIVER WOULD RAISE HIS VOICE AND DEMAND, "WHAT'S THE SOUND AN F-105 MAKES WHEN IT HITS THE GROUND?" CAME THE ROUSING CHORUS RESPONSE, "THUD!!!" NUMEROUS CHORTLES, SNICKERS, AND GUFFAWS.
"THUD" - THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED NAMES IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN AVIATION. SHE WAS CALLED A LOT OF THINGS THEN...HYPER-HOG, ULTRA LEAD SLED, ULTRA HOG. DROP FORGED BY REPUBLIC AVIATION AND A LOT MORE NAMES THAT ARE UNPRINTABLE. NO ONE EVER CALLED THE F-105 BY HER OFFICIAL NAME "THUNDERCHIEF", EXCEPT THE PRESS. SHE WAS ONE BIG JOKE EARLY IN THAT DECADE. SHE WAS TO ALL, THAT IS, EXCEPT THOSE OF US WHO FLEW HER.
BUT, "THUD" STUCK. AND WE THUD CREWS JUST SMILED A KNOWING SMILE AND QUIETLY CONTINUED SEPARATING THE GIN FROM THE ICE. WE KNEW SOMETHING THE OTHERS DIDN'T. SHE WAS ONE OF A KIND. SHE WAS AS STABLE AS A SWISS FRANC AND SHE COULD HIT. SHE COULD HIT WITH THE GATLIN GUN AND SHE COULD HIT WITH BOMBS - LOTS OF BOMBS. SHE HAD LONG LEGS AT LOW ALTITUDE. SHE WAS FAST. IT WAS VERY EASY TO GO FAST WITH HER - ESPECIALLY ON THE DECK. AND NOBODY ELSE COULD GO THAT FAST.
THEN WE WERE PRESENTED WITH VIETNAM AND WE FOUND OUT SOME OTHER THINGS.
FROM 1966 TO 1968 SHE WAS THE ONE TO CARRY THE BIG IRON DOWNTOWN. SHE WASN'T EXACTLY DESIGNED FOR IT, BUT THUDS HAULED 75% OF THE SMASH CARRIED DOWN ROUTE PACK SIX. AND IN COMBAT, SHE MAINTAINED A 90 PERCENT IN-COMMISSION RATE.
MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE SHE WAS USED TO TAKING HITS FROM ANYONE AND EVERYONE, FOR WE FOUND OUT THAT SHE COULD TAKE OTHER KINDS OF HITS, THE REAL KIND, AS WELL, AND STILL FLY. AS AN EXAMPLE, NUMBERS 0512 AND 0376 (TWO DASH TENS) TOOK DIRECT SAM HITS AFT AND CAME BACK HOME. SO DID 0167 (A DASH FIVE), RETURNING WITH THE ENTIRE RIGHT STABILATOR SHOT OFF.
BUT SHE WASN'T PERFECT. NO REAL LADY IS. SHE COULDN'T TURN WORTH A darn. WE FOUND THAT OUT EARLY ON IN USAFE; ANYTIME WE TRIED TO ENGAGE A HUNTER OR A MARK SIX. WE FIGURED EVEN A FRISBEE WOULD OUTTURN THE THUD.
TO IMPROVE HER CHANCES IN THE AIR COMBAT ARENA, THERE WAS A PROPOSAL IN 1967 TO UPGRADE EACH THUD BY EXTENDING ITS WINGS 18 INCHES; REMOVING THE DUCT PLUGS AND DEPLACEMENT GEAR TO DECREASE WEIGHT; INCREASING INTERNAL FUEL CAPACITY BY SEALING THE BOMBAY; INSTALLING A LARGER TANK; INCREASING THRUST BY 5000 POUNDS; AND ADDING OTHER COMBAT IMPROVEMENTS.
AH, WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN! SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SUPER THUD!!
SHE DIDN'T ALWAYS COME BACK. SHE DIED A LOT. HER CORPSES LINE THUD RIDGE, HANOI, THANH HOA, AND A LOT OF OTHER PLACES UP NORTH. SHE WROTE THE EPITAPH FOR A LOT OF GOOD MEN LIKE KARL RICHTER. OVER HALF THE INVENTORY WAS GONE BY THE END OF 1968; MOST LOST IN COMBAT.
SHE BECAME A LEGEND AND LEGENDS FLEW HER. ROBBIE RISNER, KARL RICHTER AND LEO THORSNESS, TO MENTION A FEW. SHE WAS FLOWN BY OTHER GREATS SUCH AS DAVE WALDROP, BILLY SPARKS, AND PETE FOLEY. AND SHE WAS HANDLED BY MANY UNKNOWNS LIKE BOB GERLACH, JIM STILES, AND ME.
AS A WEASEL, SHE REIGNED SUPREME. SHE KILLED SAM SITES, SAMS, MIGS, AND EARNED THE MEDAL OF HONOR FOR TWO MEN; LEO THORSNESS AND MERLYN DETHLEFSEN.
THE THUD PILED UP THOUSANDS OF COMBAT HOURS ON EACH BIRD AND SHE WAS SAID TO BE WEARY AND WORN OUT. BUT ASK ANY F-15 DRIVER WHO TRIED TO PACE HER AT LOW ALTITUDE DURING RED FLAG 80-2. IT WAS "CHECK TWELVE, TURKEY", AND I'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU AT THE CLUB BACK AT NELLIS. SHE'S THE ONLY BIRD I KNOW THAT CAN GIVE YOU "THE BIRD" WHETHER PARKED ON THE RAMP, TAXIING OUT, OR IN-FLIGHT.
SHE ENTERED THE INVENTORY ON 26 MAY 58 AND ON 12 JULY 1980, SHE MADE HER LAST SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL AIR FORCE FLIGHT AT GEORGE AFB BEFORE GOING ON FOR A BRIEF STINT WITH THE GUARD AND RESERVE.
SHE STAYS WITH US AS AN AMERICAN CLASSIC AND A REAL THOROUGHBRED. SHE COULD BREAK YOUR BACK BUT NEVER YOUR HEART. SHE IS GENUINELY LOVED BY ALL WHO FLEW HER AND A LOT WHO DIDN'T.
THE EPITAPH FOR ANOTHER AMERICAN LEGEND, JOHN WAYNE, "FEO, FUERTEY FORMAL" FITS THE F-105:
SHE WAS UGLY, SHE WAS STRONG, BUT SHE HAD DIGNITY.
By Blake Morrison
F-105 pilot and Editor, Fighter Weapons Review
Sat Aug 04, 2007 9:23 pm
The Ultimate jet Warbird?
Ed Rasimus, a lieutenant F-105D pilot at the time, later wrote a memoir of his F-105 days in Vietnam called, When Thunder Rolled. We have seen some of his chats on the internet. In one, he said his roommate at Korat in 1966 kept a log for four months of Rolling Thunder. That log said they were losing about a pilot and an aircraft a day. He described it this way:
“During four months of 1966, I briefed each day for missions into NVN (North Vietnam) with a group that typically consisted of four or five flights of four aircraft--a total of around 25 pilots at a time. On average over the period we lost one of those guys daily. Next morning, start with 25, that night you have 24. Go in the following day with 25, finish the day with 24. Over six months that it took to fly my 100 missions my roommate kept a diary that listed each time we lost someone. During the tour we lost 110% of the aircraft assigned and 60% of the pilots who started the 100 mission tour didn't finish.”
Ed Rasimus, a lieutenant F-105D pilot at the time, later wrote a memoir of his F-105 days in Vietnam called, When Thunder Rolled. We have seen some of his chats on the internet. In one, he said his roommate at Korat in 1966 kept a log for four months of Rolling Thunder. That log said they were losing about a pilot and an aircraft a day. He described it this way:
“During four months of 1966, I briefed each day for missions into NVN (North Vietnam) with a group that typically consisted of four or five flights of four aircraft--a total of around 25 pilots at a time. On average over the period we lost one of those guys daily. Next morning, start with 25, that night you have 24. Go in the following day with 25, finish the day with 24. Over six months that it took to fly my 100 missions my roommate kept a diary that listed each time we lost someone. During the tour we lost 110% of the aircraft assigned and 60% of the pilots who started the 100 mission tour didn't finish.”
Sat Aug 04, 2007 9:52 pm
Here are some reminiscences by a guy I know who had 163 Thud missions over North Viet Nam (and another 189 in F-4Es, for a total of 1172 hours of combat time! ). Some good reading...
http://www.skipholm.com/vietnam.htm
http://www.skipholm.com/vietnam.htm
Sat Aug 04, 2007 10:33 pm
Read it for yourself,....As per Frank Wright of Yanks:
Click on the F-105 Restoration Project button in the upper left
http://www.burrusspta.org/themachine2.html
Here is the Home link, I really enjoy this F-105 website.
http://www.burrusspta.org/thud.html
Shay
___________
Semper Fortis
Click on the F-105 Restoration Project button in the upper left
http://www.burrusspta.org/themachine2.html
Here is the Home link, I really enjoy this F-105 website.
http://www.burrusspta.org/thud.html
Shay
___________
Semper Fortis
Sun Aug 05, 2007 7:54 pm
Tulio wrote:You will have to go and recant your calling it BS on line. : )
At least, when it comes to an F-105 in private hands.
There is an AFAIK, privately owned F-105 in Texas, but as your original posting stated, the owner is not important to know. Saw it myself, and shot some photos of it.
At the owners' request, no further data was to be provided, and I have been honoring his request since 2001.
Saludos,
Tulio
The F-105 that Tulio mentioned is very open for the public to see as I drive by it everyone once in a while when I'm heading to a certain part of the state
However, I don't think in the shape it is in it can ever fly again. And if I recall correctly, this particular bird has been discussed on here before.
Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:35 pm
After exchanging messages with Connery, we reached the conclusion that he was not referring to an F-105.
Saludos,
Tulio
Saludos,
Tulio