After 45 years in the broadcasting and media industry, including my time with AFRTS in the USAF, I retired in June 2010 after eight years as President and CEO at KQED in San Francisco. I learned to fly after leaving the Air Force and still enjoy aviation today in my own aircraft a 2003 Cirrus SR20.
Other Comments:
I currently serve as a Command Pilot for Angel Flight West in Santa Monica, California and Grace Flight/Angel Flight South Central in Texas.
1966-1968, F-105 Thunderchief (Thud)
From Year 1966
To Year 1968
Personal Memories
A great bird!
Image
F-105 Thunderchief (Thud) Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
Model Republic F-105D Thunderchief Length 64.24 ft | 19.58 m Width 34.94 ft | 10.65 m Height 19.59 ft | 5.97 m Engine(s) 1 x Pratt & Whitney J75-P-19W turbojet engine generating 24,500lbs of thrust with afterburn capability. Empty Weight 27,500 lbs | 12,474 kg MTOW 52,838 lbs | 23,967 kg Max Speed 1,390 mph | 2,237 km/h | 1,208 kts Max Range 920 miles | 1,480 km Ceiling 41,207 ft | 12,560 m | 7.8 miles Climb Rate 34,400 ft/min (10,485 m/min) Hardpoints 4 Armament 1 x 20mm cannon
Internal bomb load capacity of up to 8,000lbs (3,629 kg) with an overall capacity of 12,000lbs (5,442 kg) of munitions (with the inclusion of the external hardpoints).
Mission-specific armament can include AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, mine dispensers, air-to-surface missiles, rocket pods, fuel tanks, nuclear-tipped weapons and conventional dumb bombs. Accommodations 1
Major Variants
* YF-105A - Initial prototypes of which two produced; Pratt & Whitney J57-P-25 turbojet. * YF-105B - Second prototype of which four produced; J75-P-3 powerplant. * F-105 - Base model designation * F-105B - First production rate model * F-105D - All-Weather Attack Variant * F-105F - Final production designation; Two-seat conversion trainer model. * EF-105F - Wild Weasel conversion with special radar detection equipment and anti-radar air-to-surface missiles. * F-105G - Later designation of same EF-105F Wild Weasel Variant.
