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F-84F “Thunderstreak”
SERIAL NUMBER:  52-6359

As World War II was coming to a close, the Repub­lic Aviation Corporation worked hard on a new jet fighter design. This fighter would replace Re­public's successful propeller driven P-47 "Thunder­bolt". The prototype XP-84 was a straight winged fighter equipped with an Allison J-35 turbojet engine rated at 4,000 lbs thrust. The first flight of the XP-84 was on 28 February, 1946.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Wing Span: 33 ft 7 in

  • Length: 43 ft 5 in

  • Height: 15 ft

  • Maximum Weight: 25,226 lbs

  • Maximum Speed: 685 mph

  • Service Ceiling: 36,150 ft

  • Range:  2,314 mi (Ferry)

  • Crew: 1

  • Armament: 6 x .50 Cal. Machine Guns plus 6,000 lbs of bombs

  • Engine: .1 x Wright J-65 engine rated at 7,200 lbs thrust

When production ceased in August of 1957, a total of 7,889 F-84s of all models were built. The F-84F "Thunderstreak" was much improved over earlier models and benefited from much of the data ga­thered in the post war high-speed research flights. The "F" model incorporates such aerodynamic im­provements as swept back wings, tail, and elevator surfaces, a smaller canopy and a redesigned wind­screen. With these improvements, the F-84F was introduced in 1949 as a competitor to the North American Aviation F-86 "Sabre".

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The "F" model was first flown in November of 1952, and was not delivered to frontline Tactical Air Command squadrons until May of 1954. NATO countries began receiving the F-84F in mid 1955. France, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, West Germany, Turkey, and Greece all received the F-84F under the Military Assistance Program. Some "Thunderstreaks" did see combat while serving with England and France in the 1956 "Suez Crisis". 

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The F-84F also flew combat missions in the dispute over the island of Cyprus.

In 1964, the "Thunderstreak" was transferred to Air National Guard units, while front line squadrons reequipped with the McDonnell-Douglas F-4 "Phantom”. The F-84F was operated by Air National Guard units until the final type got retired in 1971.

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Our F-84 was obtained by the museum in March of 1988 from a vocational school in Topeka, KS. The aircraft was in need of a total restoration prior to being displayed.

Information derived from, “Travis Heritage Center” by Nick Veronico, copyright Travis AFB Historical Society and Travis AFB Heritage Center Foundation.

This book is available from the Travis Heritage Center gift shop.

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