TYPE: One seated photo reconnaissance fighter
AMOUNT IN NORWEGIAN SERVICE: 35
ARMAMENT
15x Special-cameras
3x 12.7mm machineguns 4x 200 ammo
TECHNICAL DATA
Length: 14.40 m
Wingspan: 10.25 m
Height: 4.39 m
Wing area: 30 m2
Empty weight: 5,200 kg
Max takeoff weight: 12,701 kg
Powerplant: 1x Wright J65-W-3 turbojet, 32.1 kN thrust
PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 1,119 km/h at sea level
Range: 1,304 km combat radius with two drop tanks
Service ceiling: 14,000 m
Rate of climb: 42 m/s
Wing loading: 423 kg/m2
SERIAL NUMBERS - times in service and fates
-Coming soon
HISTORY
The RF-84F was a reconnaissance version of the American F-84F Thunderstreak fighter. camera canisters were fitted in the nose of the aircraft, and the air intake for the engine was moved rearwards to the wing root. the Föy type flew for the first time at the beginning of February 1952, and a total of 716 aircraft were produced between 1955 and 1958. The USAF received most of them, but many others were also given as weapons aid to NATO countries such as Norway, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy , West Germany, Greece, France and Turkey. in addition, Taiwan received such aircraft. this was among the most advanced reconnaissance aircraft of this time
Norway received 35 such aircraft, of which 31 were taken into use by the Air Force and 717 Squadron. four aircraft were forwarded to France after a short time. The first arrived on 20 April and eventually replaced 6 F-84E Thunderjets that had been converted to reconnaissance aircraft and had operated in this role for a couple of years
Thunderflash was relatively complicated and demanding, both operationally and technically, and the missions could also be very demanding, with navigation at low altitude and high speed and often in poor visibility. This led to a number of mishaps and accidents, and the department also lost a pilot. Several aircraft were lost, a total of 14 out of a total of 31 aircraft in the years 1956-69. To increase safety, modern British Martin-Baker ejection seats were installed, and six airmen managed to bail out by parachute. The losses at 717 squadron were still relatively low compared to the other fighter squadrons in the Air Force at this time. The RF-84F was equipped with two large camera compartments in the nose which could accommodate a number of different cameras. For secret, strategic photo missions in Finnmark, the aircraft was equipped with special cameras at a very long range. Thunderflash was in service during the middle of the Cold War and was NATO’s eyes on the northern flank. Often there was a “hot scramble” to intercept, identify and photograph Soviet naval vessels and aircraft along the entire Norwegian coast. It could also be NATO-imposed tactical photo missions down in Europe or low-altitude training missions in Norway. 717 squadron was stationed at Rygge, but had continuous readiness in northern Norway from Bodø and Bardufoss with 2 aircraft
As mentioned, the RF-84F was a demanding aircraft, it had too weak an engine, and with full drop tanks it resulted in weak acceleration during take-off. The planes could often use most of the runway to get airborne. This gave it the nickname “the iron” but without thoughts the situation was different. The RF-84F was one of the first American supersonic fighters. It did, however, presuppose a drop from a height of 12,000 meters with full engine. With full drop tanks, the aircraft had 6,000 liters of fuel available. Then you could fly to Rygge to Bodø at high altitude with a photo mission at low altitude over Narvik and return at high altitude to Rygge. Alternative landing site could be Ålborg in Denmark. The last mission with Thunderflash in Norway was flown with AZ-X on 29 November 1969. By then the phasing out had been going on for some time, and the replacement RF-5A had been landed for well over half a year. Nine of the Norwegian RF84F machines were shipped back to the USA, the rest, 10 aircraft, were disposed of as museum aircraft and instructional material.
there are now some at various aviation museums in Norway, I might travel there one day to take some photos.
SOME SKINS/CAMOUFLAGES 3x
PICTURES
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SOURCES
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Republic F-84F Thunderstreak - Wikipedia
WarthunderNorway on Instagram: "REPUBLIC RF-84F THUNDERFLASH one-seater photo-reconnaissance fighter ARMAMENT 4x 12.7x99mm machineguns 4x200 shots SPECIFICATIONS Wingspan: 10.2m Lenght: 14.4m Eignes: Curtiss-Wright J65-B-3 Curtiss-Wright J65-W-7 Top speed: 1093 km/h sea level Range: 2960km photo equipment: 15x special cameras The RF-84F was a reconnaissance version of the American F-84F Thunderstreak fighter. camera canisters were fitted in the nose of the aircraft, and the air intake for the engine was moved rearwards to the wing root. the Föy type flew for the first time at the beginning of February 1952, and a total of 716 aircraft were produced between 1955 and 1958. The USAF received most of them, but many others were also given as weapons aid to NATO countries such as Norway, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy , West Germany, Greece, France and Turkey. in addition, Taiwan received such aircraft. this was among the most advanced reconnaissance aircraft of this time Norway received 35 such aircraft, of which 31 were taken into use by the Air Force and 717 Squadron. four aircraft were forwarded to France after a short time. The first arrived on 20 April and eventually replaced 6 F-84E Thunderjets that had been converted to reconnaissance aircraft and had operated in this role for a couple of years The 717 squadron was stationed at Rygge airport, but had continuous readiness in Northern Norway from Bodø and Bardufoss with 2 aircraft Today, such aircraft can be found at, among others, the Defense Aircraft Collection at Gardemoen, at the Aviation History Collection at Sola, the Luftforsvarmuseet in Bodø, at Dakota Norway at Torp and at LTS Kjevik more puctrues history etc will be posted some day somewhere #warthunder #warthunderjets" (my own Instagram account!!)
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Norske militærfly - Sverre Mo, Ole Bjørn Sælensminde - innbundet(9788271286873) | Adlibris Bokhandel
https://www.adlibris.com/no/bok/luftforsvarets-historie-fortalt-gjennom-75-gjenstan
- Yes
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