Republic F-84LR

Gallery Article by 63CPE on Jan 5 2017

Silly Week 2017

 

      

I guess most of you are familiar with the Republic F-84 Thunderjet and its siblings like the XF-84H Thunderscreech. But what if the Thunderscreech had been more successful? Possibly this could have happened:

The F-84LR was created as a Long Ranged development of the XF-84 H for escort duties of the B-36 and B-47. As the XF-84 H it was an heavily modified F-84F airframe, installing a 5,850 hp (4,360 kW) Allison T40-A-1 turboprop engine in a centrally-located housing behind the cockpit with a long extension shaft to the nose-mounted propeller. The turbine engine also provided thrust through its exhaust; an afterburner could further increase power to 7,230 hp (5,391 kW). Thrust was adjusted by changing the blade pitch of the 16 feet (4.88 m) Curtiss-Wright Turbo-electric co-axial contra-rotating three-bladed propellers. It had delta wings with a span of 37ft 9 in (11.52 m) to counter the propeller's torque and hold enough fuel for it’s long ranged duties. 

Click on images below to see larger images

It had a design top speed of 670 mph (1,080 km/h) (Mach 0.9) and proved to have an operational top speed of 623 mph (1,003 km/h) (Mach 0.83). Because the airframes were essentially modified F-84F airframes, the Bu No’s of the F-84F frames were continued. 

Pictured is an F-84LR from 96Th Bomber Wing SAC, Altus AFB, Oklahoma, April 1955 without it’s usual under wing tanks to extend it’s range even further.

You can find the complete album here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jetsonsspecial/albums/72157656935671542

It's actually the 1/72 Italeri F-84 F Thunderjet modified with MiG-25 wings, XFY-1 Pogo prop, nose and intakes.

63CPE aka David

Photos and text © by 63CPE