F-84 Thunderjet Design, History, Deployment and Photographs

The F-84 Thunderjet became the Army Air Forces' second jet fighter to enter large-scale production, and it first flew flight in February of 1946.

F-84G jets in formation, S/N 11309, Buzz Number FS-309, in the foreground

During its service life, the Thunderjet served in several roles, including day fighter, long-range escort fighter, fighter-bomber and as the USAF's first tactical nuclear bomber. The United States also supplied F-84s to 14 other countries.

Early models had considerable problems, and the Air Force considered canceling the program. Eventually, the aircraft was considered fully operational in 1949, with the arrival of the F-84D model. The design matured with the F-84G introduced in 1951.

The basic "straight-wing" F-84 design later evolved into a swept-wing fighter version called the F-84F Thunderstreak and a swept-wing reconnaissance version called the RF-84F Thunderflash.

Technical Specifications of the F-84 Thunderjet

F-84 Thunderjet (from the Topps Wings Friend or Foe collection)

Armament: 6 .50-cal. machine guns & 8 5-in. rockets or 2,000 lbs. of bombs, or napalm tanks
Engine: Allison J35 of 4,900 lbs. thrust
Maximum speed: 620 mph
Range: 1,485 miles
Ceiling: 43,240 ft.
Span: 36 ft. 5 in.
Length: 38 ft. 6 in.
Height: 12 ft. 7 in.
Weight: 15,227 lbs. loaded 

Production Numbers and Surviving F-84 Thunderjets on Display

By the time production ended in 1953, Republic had manufactured 4,450 "straight-wing" Thunderjets (XP-84, YP-84A, F-84B/C/D/E/G).

A total of 16 F-84 Thunderjets survive and are on display today in the United States, including aircraft in the photographs below.

Republic F-84C Thunderjet S/N 47-1433, Buzz Number FS-433-A, Pima Air Museum, Tucson AZ

Nose view of Republic F-84C Thunderjet, S/N 47-1433

F-84G Thunderjet, "Manny's Menace", Buzz Number FS-595, on display at the March Field Air Museum in California

F-84G Thunderjet, S/N 71595, on display at the March Field Air Museum in California

F-84G Thunderjet, Buzz Number FS-275, restored at Hill AFB, near Salt Lake City

 

 

F-84E Thunderjet, S/N 51-604, Buzz Number FS-604A, Museum of Aviation, Warner-Robins, Georgia

F-84E Thunderjet, S/N 110454, Buzz Number FS-454, on display in the Korean War Gallery at the Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio

Historic Image of the F-84 Thunderjet from the Airplanes Online Collection

U.S. Air Force F-84E Thunderjet S/N 92026 ...piloted by USAF Captain Ross Clarke Watson