Republic RF-84F Thunderflash
Kit No: 2201-1
Scale: 1/48
Type: Injection Moulded Plastic with canopy mask set
Manufacturer: Tanmodel www.tanmodel.com
The Lens of History
Designed as a development of the F-84F Thunderstreak fighter-bomber, the RF-84F Thunderflash was a dedicated photoreconnaissance aircraft. Outwardly it was very different to its nose-intaked forbear. New wing intakes allowed a dedicated camera nose to be added, with defensive armament moved to the lower intake leading edges. This similarity in configuration to Republic’s later F-105 led to it being nicknamed ‘Thud’s Mother’. It also incorporated advanced features to ease the pilot’s workload such as computerized controls to adjust camera settings for light, speed, and altitude, a periscope to give better view of the target, and a voice recorder to let the pilot save his observations. Used in quantity by the USAF, the Thunderflash also served with several NATO and European air forces for many years. Greece only retired its last examples in 1991.
In the Aeronautica Militare, Thunderflashes equipped units of the 3rd Aerobrigata (Wing). Initially called the 3rd Fighter Wing, in March 1954 they moved from Bari to the Villafranca Air Base at Verona airport in the north of the country. In June 1955 the unit began to receive straight-winged F-84G Thunderjets and then, in December, the first Thunderflashes. By the end of the year it had been re-christened as the 3rd Reconnaissance Wing. The 78 aircraft in service were used until 1970 when they were replaced by RF-104G Starfighters.
Through the Viewfinder
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Denne historien er fra January 2021-utgaven av Scale Aircraft Modelling.
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