Republic F-105 Projects

Hello everyone, only today I discovered that the proposed reconnaissance variant RF-105B was initially ordered but ultimately completed as JF-105Bs.
Please notice an artwork of the RF-10B created by Scott Cullen, as shared on his Instagram.
 
I recall seeing documents in The National Archives, Kew referring to a Spey-engined "F-105K" being proposed around the time that the F-111 was being mooted instead of TSR.2. Also that this aircraft was being marketed to Iran. Did I recall that correctly and does anyone know more?
 
fightingirish said:
Hello everyone, only today I discovered that the proposed reconnaissance variant RF-105B was initially ordered but ultimately completed as JF-105Bs.
Please notice an artwork of the RF-10B created by Scott Cullen, as shared on his Instagram.
Click to expand...
Screenprint attached.
 

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TsrJoe said:
Republic F-105B Thunderchief evaluation for possible RAF. use, 1959

PRO./TNA. AVIA 18/1998 ... https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C6119099
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Sadly the dates don't align; this looks more like an evaluation for procurement of off-the-shelf F-105Bs rather than Spey-engined "F-105Ks". I wish I could recall where the reference was stated but I suspect it was in relation to something to do with Iran.

In any case the dates would be later than 1959 (1961 onwards?) and maybe even as late as 1964 if TSR.2 substitution was indeed the intention.

It's a shame since I was at TNA last Wednesday and could have taken a look.
 
Republic's F-105 does appear on comparison charts during GOR.339 evaluation studies (pre OR.343/TSR.2 definition) as an 'off the shelf' type (also NA. A3J, Douglas B-66, Martin B-68 and Bell D.188)

See also
Post #28 ... AP.63-19 studies for Olympus B.01 22R engined F-105D, 1960

Post #36 ... proposal for RR. Spey engined F-105D, 1963 (possible alternative to TSR.2 ?)

I don't recall seeing the 'F-105K' in the files as a TSR.2 substitute post programme contract ? (unsolicitated proposal by Republic ?) il have a look at my notes tho as I might have missed it
 
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TsrJoe said:
See also

Post #36 ... proposal for RR. Spey engined F-105D, 1963 (possible alternative to TSR.2 ?)
Click to expand...
Yes I noted that but no reference to it being related to F-105D unless I missed it. I wonder if "F-105K" was just a UK placeholder for whatever it turned out to be?
 
SOC said:
Pretty sure the J-58 was JT11. I recall seeing the designation JT11D-2 associated with the Blackbird program before.
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J58 was the JT11B. It started as a supersonic turbojet similar to the DeHaviland Gyron but evolved considerably to power the Blackbird.
 
Republic and the F-105 seems like they should have collaborated with Convair and the F-106. The F-105 fit a Vulcan in the nose and it seems like F-106 should have done the same. At a minimum they could have came up with common tails and air brakes for interoperability. Hard to believe the F-105 is quite a bit shorter because the F-105 looks like it should be bigger since its so high off the ground. F-105 has a massive ground clearance on par with larger bombers.
 
elmayerle said:
J58 was the JT11B. It started as a supersonic turbojet similar to the DeHaviland Gyron but evolved considerably to power the Blackbird.
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IIRC that's the one they wanted to stuff in the Vigilante, XF8U-3, B-58, etc.
 
MadRat said:
Republic and the F-105 seems like they should have collaborated with Convair and the F-106. The F-105 fit a Vulcan in the nose and it seems like F-106 should have done the same. At a minimum they could have came up with common tails and air brakes for interoperability. Hard to believe the F-105 is quite a bit shorter because the F-105 looks like it should be bigger since its so high off the ground. F-105 has a massive ground clearance on par with larger bombers.
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The F-105F/G is a foot shorter than the F-106. But that's like trying to combine the P-47 with the P-51.
 
MadRat said:
Republic and the F-105 seems like they should have collaborated with Convair and the F-106. The F-105 fit a Vulcan in the nose and it seems like F-106 should have done the same. At a minimum they could have came up with common tails and air brakes for interoperability. Hard to believe the F-105 is quite a bit shorter because the F-105 looks like it should be bigger since its so high off the ground. F-105 has a massive ground clearance on par with larger bombers.
Click to expand...
The F-106 and other USAF interceptors of that generation didn't have any cannon armament as a matter of choice by the USAF. In retrospect this was a mistake, but it wasn't a failure on Corvair's part.

The two designs really aren't that comparable even though they use the same engine and are of similar weight and size. The F-105 wing was designed for that most dangerous phase of the Thud's envisioned mission where it is flying very low and fast right before lobbing a tactical nuclear bomb at some Soviet armored formation or other suitable target. The F-106 by comparison had to climb quickly and would stay high and fast for its whole flight. If you worked hard enough on it maybe they could have used some common vertical tail and airbrakes and other minor components but generally speaking it really wouldn't have been worth all that effort.
 

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