Republic F-105C Thunderchief

Last revised January 5, 2003




The F-105C was to have been a two-seat version of the single-seat F-105B. The F-105C was intended to be used for advanced training, and the student and instructor were seated in tandem ejector seats underneath a very large single canopy. The second cockpit would replace one of the fuselage fuel cells. All of the combat capabilities of the single-seat F-105B would be retained.

In April of 1956, Republic received authorization to build five F-105Cs. However, in October of 1957, the F-105C project was cancelled before any examples could be built or flown. Nevertheless, the F-105C had reached the mockup stage at the time of the cancellation.

Sources:


  1. United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.

  2. The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.

  3. Fighters of the United States Air Force, Robert F. Dorr and David Donald, Temple Press Aerospace, 1990.

  4. Post-World War II Fighters, 1945-1973, Marcelle Size Knaack, Office of Air Force History, 1986.

  5. The Thunder Factory, Joshua Stoff, Motorbooks, 1990.

  6. Warplane Classic–Republic F-105 Thunderchief, Larry Davis, International Air Power Review, Vol 6, 2002.