Subject: Number Ninety-Six in the Series--Republic XF-96A

From: [email-masked]
Date: 14 Oct 93 16:20:02 GMT

>From [email-masked]

F-96 was the designation initially applied to the Republic F-84F
Thunderstreak, the swept-wing version of the F-84 Thunderjet.

A swept-wing version of the F-84 had been planned late in 1949 in order 
to bring the performance of the Thunderjet up to the level of that of 
the F-86 Sabre.  However, it was hoped that the swept wing version 
would retain or even improve the ground attack capabilities of the 
Thunderjet.  At this time, USAF funds for new aircraft development 
were rather limited, and it was thought that by using some 60 percent 
of existing Thunderjet tooling and a standard F-84E fuselage, a 
high-performance aircraft could be produced at minimal cost.  

The swept-wing version of the Thunderjet was initially designated 
XF-96A because of its extensive design changes.  The USAF sanctioned 
construction of a single prototype.  The last aircraft on the F-84E 
contract (49-2430) was selected for the conversion.  The fuselage of 
the XF-96A was essentially that of the F-84E, including the pilot's 
rearward-sliding canopy and the air brake underneath the fuselage.  
The tail was swept back and an entirely new wing, swept back at an 
angle of 38.5 degrees was used.  The new wing had an area of 325 
square feet and a span of 36 feet 5 inches.  The wing had its maximum 
thickness at 45 percent chord, although the chord-wise thickness ratio 
was only nine percent.  The swept wing had an anhedral (negative 
dihedral) of 3.5 degrees.  The engine was an Allison J35-A-25 of 5200 
lb.st.  

The construction of XF-96A 49-2430 took 167 days.  It was then 
dismantled and flown from Farmingdale via cargo aircraft out to Muroc.  
It was reassembled there and took off on its maiden flight on June 3, 
1950, piloted by Republic's Director of Flight Otto P. Haas.  
Performance included a maximum speed of 693 mph at sea level (Mach 
0.93), and a range of 1716 miles at a cruising speed of 514 mph.  
Maximum fuel load was 1253 Imp. gall internally and externally, and 
the empty and maximum loaded weights were 12,150 pounds and 23,350 
pounds respectively.  Although the low-altitude speed was impressive, 
performance fell off rather badly with altitude.  Service ceiling was 
only 38,300 feet and it took 14.8 minutes to reach an altitude of 
35,000 feet.  It was felt that the performance improvement over the 
F-84E was only marginal at best, and the project proceeded with only 
low priority.  

Were it not for the Korean War, the XF-96A project probably would have 
been cancelled.  As it turned out, the onset of the Korean War freed 
up some USAF funds for continued development and a letter contract for 
F-96A production was received in July of 1950.  On August 9, 1950, the 
designation was changed to XF-84F, and the name Thunderstreak was 
chosen.  It was anticipated that the first production Thunderstreaks 
would be available in the autumn of 1951.  

Following its redesignation, the F-84F design was re-engined with the
more powerful Wright J65 turbojet.  The F-84F went on to become a
fabulously successful fighter bomber, serving with the USAF and with
many foreign air arms.  Some 2348 were built, including 852
manufactured by General Motors in Kansas City.

Sources:

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

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

  American Combat Planes, Third Enlarged Edition, Ray Wagner,
  Doubleday, 1982.

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

  The Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, Ray Wagner, Profile Publications, 1966.

Joe Baugher		AT&T Bell Laboratories   	
2000 North Naperville Road      Naperville, Illinois 60566-7033