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MEDWAY AIRCRAFT PRESERVATION SOCIETY Rochester Airport. Chatham. Kent. UK. info@mapsl.co.uk |
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REPUBLIC F-84F THUNDERSTREAK
One
of the more unusual aircraft refurbished by Maps was a Republic F-84F Thunderstreak.
A ground attack fighter, it was derived from the F-84E Thunderjet and was first
flown on June 3 1950. The fighter came to the workshops of Maps when the Southend
Aviation Museum closed and the aircraft was presented to the RAF Museum at Cosford.
They in turn asked Maps to carry out a cosmetic refurbishment to allow it to be
displayed in the livery of the USAF aerobatic team, The Thunderbirds. The Thunderstreak
was in fact the first aircraft in service with the Belgian Air Force to break
the sound barrier. Powered by an Allison J-35-A-25 engine, it had a maximum speed
of 710mph at sea level. Its armament consisted of six 0.50-in M-3 guns mounted
one in each wing and four in fuselage nose. Combat load could include 24 5-in
HVAR missiles or four 1,000lb bombs.
For some time the aircraft languished outside the workshops of Maps until brought inside during the 1980's where it was lovingly restored to its former glory and returned to Cosford.
For some time the aircraft languished outside the workshops of Maps until brought inside during the 1980's where it was lovingly restored to its former glory and returned to Cosford.