Author Topic: Empty Handed's Profiles (Read 190542 times)

Empty Handed · « **Reply #100 on:** January 19, 2012, 09:29:42 AM »

Fiat G.84Y AMI Late by mtpalmer1, on Flickr

The Fiat G.84Y, powered by the same two Pratt & Whitney J60 turbojets as Piaggio's license built T-39 Sabreliners, was the longest lived of the Thunderstreak derivatives, not being retired until 2000. This was due in no small part to the failure of the AMX programme to reach a consensus.

.....

Republic AQM-42K Thunderfly by mtpalmer1, on Flickr

A Republic AQM-42K 'Thunderfly' continues it's second life as a reconnaissance drone over North Vietnam.

Maverick · « **Reply #101 on:** January 19, 2012, 10:08:01 AM »

The Drone is particularly nice. I'm sure Greg will approve.

Regards,

John

Doom! · « **Reply #102 on:** January 19, 2012, 10:27:08 AM »

I agree with Mav, the drone is very nice. :)

sotoolslinger · « **Reply #103 on:** January 19, 2012, 10:33:02 AM »

Must agree

Most nifty drone

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #104 on:** January 19, 2012, 05:38:28 PM »

UAV good!!!

Stargazer2006 · « **Reply #105 on:** January 19, 2012, 05:53:41 PM »

Excellent gallery as usual, but the ZELL launched version and the Thunderfly drone are SOMETHING ELSE!!! Wow.

Empty Handed · « **Reply #106 on:** January 20, 2012, 01:42:02 AM »

Thanks guys!

Republic XF5N-1 Thunderguard USN Prototype by mtpalmer1, on Flickr

The Republic XF5N-1 Thunderguard prototype first flew 60 years ago today. Perhaps the best naval fighter of the early/mid-fifties, the variable incidence wings allowed comparatively straightforward carrier landings and unlike it's main competitor, the F3H Demon, the Thunderguard had been designed around the Allison J71 from the start, permitting it's full 14,750lbs of thrust to be used to the fullest.

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #107 on:** January 20, 2012, 02:39:21 AM »

Doom! · « **Reply #108 on:** January 20, 2012, 02:48:14 AM »

OK, I'm diggin' the Thunderguard.

JoseFern · « **Reply #109 on:** January 20, 2012, 07:27:29 AM »

Thank you for the G.84Y.
Very nice drone indeed, love the camo too!

apophenia · « **Reply #110 on:** January 20, 2012, 09:46:50 AM »

Ooh-aah! That Thunderguard would make a sharp-looking UAV too [hint, hint]

Stargazer2006 · « **Reply #111 on:** January 20, 2012, 10:42:56 AM »

Fabulous Thunderguard...

Empty Handed · « **Reply #112 on:** January 21, 2012, 09:49:39 PM »

Thanks guys!

Republic F3N-1 Thunderstorm USN Experimental Dark Grey by mtpalmer1, on Flickr

The US Navy was understandably reluctant to purchase a naval derivative of the F-84. While a more than adequate fighter-bomber, it's range, manoeuvrability and field performance left something to be desired. Republic went to great lengths to navalise the Thunderjet, culminating in the F3N-1 Thunderstorm.

Power was provided by a Pratt & Whitney J48 for commonality with other Navy types, necessitating a more rotund fuselage, as did the increased internal tankage. The wings were power-folded, increased in span and chord and featured full-span flaps to bring approach speeds to an acceptable level. Higher AoA could be adopted on approach thanks to the new forward position of the cockpit. The AN/APG-37 radar provided all-weather interception capability.

*apophenia - I'm going to finalise the F4N before I revisit both the F3N & F5N. I'll add a drone to the list.*

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #113 on:** January 22, 2012, 03:18:26 AM »

elmayerle · « **Reply #114 on:** January 23, 2012, 04:17:53 AM »

I love the Thunderstorm and Thunderguard and I'm quite looking forward to seeing the F4N which I imagine would bear a family resemblance to the swept-wing F-84s. So where the F1N and F2N navalized variants of the P-47 and P-72? I keep thinking that a P-72 with P-47N wings and a 5-bladed prop like that of the Sea Fury would look just right in Navy dark blue.

Empty Handed · « **Reply #115 on:** January 23, 2012, 04:42:30 AM »

The FN was P-35/P-41 based, the F2N P-47 based.

The F4N was my first pass at the Thunderguard that I didn't want to just discard. It is very much F-84F based. I purposely didn't do a P-72 as I figured the F2N was a wartime exigency and post-war, the Navy would be reluctant to deal with an "Air Force" supplier.

elmayerle · « **Reply #116 on:** January 23, 2012, 05:25:48 AM »

Quote from: Empty Handed on January 23, 2012, 04:42:30 AM

The F4N was my first pass at the Thunderguard that I didn't want to just discard. It is very much F-84F based. I purposely didn't do a P-72 as I figured the F2N was a wartime exigency and post-war, the Navy would be reluctant to deal with an "Air Force" supplier.

Well, considering that the Navy was a bit slower getting into jets (considering the performance and behavior of the engines of the time - low power and long spool-up times, I can't blame them), I could see them going for a P-72 development as a F2N variant (close enough to qualify) that was of sufficiently high performance for the time. Besides, it's got an aircooled engine unlike the "Seahorse" derivative of the Mustang.

Empty Handed · « **Reply #117 on:** January 23, 2012, 07:18:10 AM »

Quote

I could see them going for a P-72 development as a F2N variant (close enough to qualify)

I quite agree. My original plan had the naval P-72 under the designation of F2N-8 or -9 (I'm quite sure I could get the F2N line up to that many sub-variants with the odd liquid-cooled H-type engine test-bed interspersed). I suppose I could reactivate that plan but I really wanted something of a story of Republic's reputation of producing ground-huggers working against them, Navy reluctance and eventually, Republic proving everyone wrong and developing a worthy family of naval fighters. Or something like that.

As an aside, I plan on merging my resin XP-72 with F-84G wings and tail section to produce a Korean War era piston-powered fighter-bomber with the jetpipe acting as a XR-12 style ejector exhaust. The tail-less F-84 will get a P-47 tail and become an alternative P-44 Rocket (the mid-fuselage V-1710 engined AP-12). Another F-84 will become a developed P-69 with the same ejector exhaust treatment.

elmayerle · « **Reply #118 on:** January 23, 2012, 10:07:40 AM »

Sounds cool. I've got a resin XP-72 that's going to receive P-47N wings and a five-bladed prop. I'm also looking to blend P-47N wings with a P-84 to do an early iteration toward the production P-84. Also have thoughts of doing XP-47H/P-47N and XP-47J/P-47N crosses.

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #119 on:** January 23, 2012, 04:41:37 PM »

I'm liking these ideas....

Empty Handed · « **Reply #120 on:** January 23, 2012, 07:51:40 PM »

Interesting....

On the XP-47J front, I've developed a hybrid cowling (including parts from a F8F and a J2M) to produce a P-47J with a cooling-fan in an extended cowling like that of the Raiden and hearken back to earlier Seversky experiments such as the AP-4:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/49487266@N07/4822623722#

..... but I digress! Maybe we should have a Republic Thunderfarm subject over in the Ideas & Inspiration section?

Empty Handed · « **Reply #121 on:** January 24, 2012, 05:58:42 AM »

Republic XF4N-1 Thundershark USN by mtpalmer1, on Flickr

The XF4N-1 Thundershark prototype.

Republic XF4N-2 Thundershark by mtpalmer1, on Flickr

F4N-2 production was cancelled in favour of development of the superior F5N Thunderguard. Construction of the prototype was well advanced however and Republic completed it to serve as a company testbed.

Amongst this aircraft's accolades was it's use in the development of the Fieri intakes that so typified later Republic products. It tested the Boundary Layer Control system used on the F5N's wing. It was also used as an engine testbed and in so doing became the sole aircraft to fly with the Allis-Chalmers J62 engine, which was a license built copy of the De Havilland Gyron Junior. It is depicted here during the latter's test programme.

Of note is the suction slot immediately ahead of the wing root that served both as an auxiliary inlet and as part of the BLC system to prevent separated flow over the wing root.

apophenia · « **Reply #122 on:** January 24, 2012, 08:16:30 AM »

I do like prototypes and that XF4N-1 Thundershark is no exception. Nice!

Empty Handed · « **Reply #123 on:** January 24, 2012, 07:58:53 PM »

Thanks!

Republic F4N-1 Thundershark USN NOTS (Hopi) by mtpalmer1, on Flickr

A NOTS (Naval Ordnance Test Station) F4N-1 performs an over-the-shoulder delivery during a test firing of a Hopi nuclear rocket.

Empty Handed · « **Reply #124 on:** January 25, 2012, 02:43:45 AM »

Per apophenia's request:

Republic XSSM-N-9 Regulus II by mtpalmer1, on Flickr

A Republic XSSM-N-9 Regulus II in flight.


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Author Topic: Empty Handed's Profiles (Read 190542 times)

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