Customer Reviews

Republic F-105 Thunderchief - Warbird Tech Vol. 18

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I think this book is a rich reference about the most representatives aircraft in the USAF history.

Cover all parts in aircraft development's, from the USAF requeriment's for a new nuclear fighter-bomber, passing for prototype, F-105B,D,F & G; also the the F-105 cancelled projects and their roll in Combat speciality in the Vietnam War.

This book have a good reference of technical details with good explanation in the diferences between F-105A,B,D,F,& G and others projects.

Contains many photos and detailed technical drawings that can help to understand the past existence of this aircraft in the USAF.

Highly recommended for modelers.

This is a great book well worth the money. it reminded me alot of the old days flying the airplane. very good book highly recomended

I am a big fan of the Osprey series of aviation books but I could not find an Osprey series book on the F-105 so I ordered this Warbird Tech series book because it was on the F-105 and this was also the first time I purchased a Warbird Tech series book so I wanted to see if they were any good. Its a great book. Osprey focuses alot on pilots and missions which is great but this Warbird Tech book focused mostly on the plane itself which I find interesting. For example, this author finally gives a good explanation of why the F-105 has forward swept intakes...I've always wondered why this was necessary. Book talks about the development of the aircraft in terms of designs and changes. There are two pages of color photos which are OK but lots of B&W photos which I dont mind if they are good photos. There is one picture of the aft section fuselage removed that shows the business end of the J75 engine - 26,000 pounds of thrust if you need it. Also a photo of ground crew loading a 20mm ammo drum into the nose section of a Thunderchief. So if you are more interested in the plane design this is a great book. This book does discuss missions over Vietnam but this is not the focus of the book. Photos do show that the Thunderchief / Lead Sled is a BIG aircraft. Photos show parked F-105s with pilot access ladder which is like two stories tall because the cockpit is sooo far up. You know if Republic makes it...its BIG. There is a brief section of when the Thunderbirds used the F-105 as their demonstration aircraft. I would never use the words "F-105" and "aerobatic" in the same sentence but the USAF did for a while. One interesting pilot note that on some missions the plane's hardpoints were fully loaded except one remaining available outer wing hardpoint which left the pilot to choose between an ECM pod..or..sidewinder. Nice choice. The book does describe the stunning combat losses in terms of number of aircraft and pilots lost over North Vietnam. So if you are interested more so in the design and mechanics of the F-105 this book is great as it also includes what appear to be reproduced manufactuer diagrams of plane structures and systems. If anything, the F-105 is proof that a brick house can fly if you put a big enough engine on it.

on line with the warbird tech series standards
a little bit too oriented on the single seat versions and not enough on the wild wessel