Republic RF-84 Thunderflash

Dedicated Single-Seat, Single-Engine Reconnaissance Aircraft [ 1954 ]

The Republic RF-84F Thunderflash was a dedicated reconnaissance conversion model of the swept-wing F-84F Thunderstreak jet fighter.

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The original Republic F-84 "Thunderjet" was born from a 1944 wartime requirement o the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). The type, originally emerging as a straight-winged jet-powered fighter, suffered through a protracted development period, only going airborne for the first time after the World War 2 in 1946 and not achieving operational status until 1949. The design, despite its faults, did go on to serve as the framework for other related aircraft projects including the swept-wing F-model "Thunderstreak" and the developmental minded XF-84H "Thunderscreech" and XF-91 "Thunderceptor" forms (all detailed elsewhere on this site).

One other key development of the line became the F-84F "Thunderflash", a reconnaissance-minded variant of the F-model series. This form was born in the third of three YF-84F fighter-minded prototypes which, instead of utilizing a nose-mounted intake, relied on wing-root-mounted, triangular-shaped intakes to aspirate the single engine installation in the aft-end of the fuselage. The change led to thrust loss which, in turn, led the USAF away from the approach. However, the design made sense for a dedicated reconnaissance platform as the new aircraft permitted a hollowed-out nose section to be fitted to the aircraft to which camera equipment could be carried internally - all the while retaining 4 x 0.50 caliber Browning M2 heavy machines guns for combat purposes. The resulting form became "YRF-84F" and this model appeared in February of 1952 - as the Korean War (1950-1953) was in full swing.

The new aircraft sported the same all-swept-back wing surfaces as the Thunderstreak production fighters to aid in high-speed flying. The wing mainplanes exhibited twin boundary layer fences and blended smoothly into the wing root intake shrouds. The retractable tricycle undercarriage of the original was also retained as was the pilot's placement near the front of the aircraft. Under each wing root could be affixed a fuel drop tank for increased operational ranges. Internally, the camera equipment was assisted through an early-form digital arrangement to take into account the aircraft's speed and operating altitude as well as current lighting conditions to provide for a more accurate picture.

In the end, some 715 Thunderflash aircraft were built with the series entering formal service in March of 1954. The line was cursed to an extent with some of the same engine issues and production delays of the original Thunderstreak line and only managed a frontline service life until 1957. In 1961, the series was brought online once more but its contributions were officially ended in 1972 - these units operating with the Air National Guard (ANG).

The FICON ("FIghter CONveyor") program was a related Thuderflash initiative undertaken by the newly-minded United States Air Force (USAF) and fell in line with current-period thinking of introducing "parasite fighters" into a combat theater by way of a "mothership". In this particular case, it was RF-84K Thunderflash models operating (in converted forms) with a CONVAIR B-36 "Peacemaker" jet-powered heavy bomber. The concept was in play with U.S. Strategic Air Command (SAC) from 1955 until 1956 and proved the tactic as viable. The RF-84Ks emerged from the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron at Larsson, AFB while the Peacemakers operated from the 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing of Fairchild AFB.

Key changes to the RF-84F models were retracting "hook-up" probes and an anhedral angle added to the horizontal tailplanes. Despite its marginal success, the concept was ultimately abandoned by the USAF. Twenty-five or so RF-84Ks were used during the program period and all but three were ultimately dismantled.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Service Year

1954

Origin

United States

Status

RETIRED
Not in Service.

Crew

1

Production

715
UNITS

Republic Aviation - USA

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

United States (retired)

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

Length

43.5 ft
(13.25 m)

Width/Span

33.6 ft
(10.25 m)

Height

14.4 ft
(4.40 m)

Empty Wgt

12,125 lb
(5,500 kg)

MTOW

25,353 lb
(11,500 kg)

Wgt Diff

+13,228 lb
(+6,000 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the Republic RF-84F Thunderflash production variant)

Installed: 1 x Wright J65-W-3 turbojet engine developing 7,220lb of thrust.

Max Speed

621 mph
(1,000 kph | 540 kts)

Ceiling

45,932 ft
(14,000 m | 9 mi)

Range

808 mi
(1,300 km | 2,408 nm)

Rate-of-Climb

8,000 ft/min
(2,438 m/min)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Republic RF-84F Thunderflash production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)

4 x 0.50 caliber Browning M2 Heavy Machine Guns (HMGs) in nose section.

Also special-mission equipment encompassing up to fifteen reconnaissance-minded camera systems.

2 x Fuel drop tanks fitted to under-wing-root hardpoints as needed.

Supported Types

Graphical image of an aircraft medium machine gun

Graphical image of an aircraft heavy machine gun

Graphical image of an aircraft conventional drop bomb munition

Graphical image of an aircraft external fuel tank

(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)

Hardpoint Mountings: 2

F-84 "Thunderflash" - Base Series Designation.

YF-84F - Prototype configuration (third of three original), reworked as the YRF-84F.

F-84F - Production fighter form on which the RF-84F is based on.

YRF-84F - Definitive Thunderflash prototype form.

RF-84F - Production model designation; 715 examples completed.

GRF-84F - F-model reconnaissance aircraft relying on B-36 Peacekeeper mothership; 25 examples.

RF-84K FICON - Redesignation of GRF-84F aircraft.

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