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WWII: 1945-1953 1954-1960 1960-1970 1970-1990 1990-Present Future
 

F-105 THUNDERCHIEF (Republic Aviation)

Called the "Thud" by its aircrews, the Thunderchief was originally designed to deliver nuclear weapons using high speed and low altitude penetration into enemy territory.   It was Vietnam however where the F-105 would etch its mark in history, becoming the primary ground attack plane early in the war. A "Wild Weasel" version was dedicated to Surface to Air missile suppression and elimination. Of the 833 Thunderchiefs built, 334 were lost in combat over the skies of Vietnam.
 Armament: 1 x 20 mm Vulcan Cannon, 14,000lbs of conventional bombs or 3 nukes.  AGM-12 bullpup air to surface missiles.   AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, AGM-45 and AGM-78  anti radiation missile on wild weasel variants.
Engines:    Pratt & Whitney J75 Turbojet
Speed:      1375 mph (2,208 km/h) @ 36,000 feet. 

F-105 Thunderchief

                                  

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F-104 STARFIGHTER

The sleek looking F-104 Starfighter was another design born to the famed skunkworks under the direction of Kelly Johnson.    The plane was designed as a high speed interceptor and garnered numberous speed, altitude, and time to altutude records. 

Armament:   1 x 20 mm Vulcan Cannon
                    4 x AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, Up to 4000lbs of bombs on external hard points.  
Engines:       Genteral Electric J79 turbojet.
Speed:         1328 mph (2,125 km/h).

F-104 STARFIGHTER

                    

 
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F-100 SUPER SABRE
One of the first fighters capable of supersonic speed in level flight, the North American Aviation F-100 Super Sabre served in the U.S. Air Force from 1954 to 1971.   The Super Sabre flew extensively over South Vietnam as the Air Forces primary close air support platform during the Vietnam war, until eventually being replaced by the A7 Corsair II.  On 04 April 1965 an F-100 piloted by Air Force Captain Donald Kilgus shot down one of the first enemy jets of the Vietnam War,a Mig-17, using cannon fire.  The last U.S. F-100 was retired in 1979, and many of the retired airplanes were converted to remote control drones for use as targets for various anti-aircraft systems. 

Armament:  4 x 20 mm M39 Cannon
                    4 x AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, Up to 7000lbs of bombs, including nuclear bombs.  
Engines:       1 X Pratt & Whitney J57 turbojet.
Speed:        (864 mph, 1,390 km/h)

F-100 Super Sabre
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MIG 19
The MIG 19 was the first soviet fighter plane to achieve supersonic speeds at level flight, and is comparable to the U.S. F-100 super sabre from the same period.  8500 MIG 19's were produced, mainly in Russia, but also in China and Czechoslovakia, before finally being superceded  by the MIG 21.

Armament: 3 x 30 mm NR-30 Cannon, 550 lbs of bombs or rockets on underwing hardpoints. 
Engines:      1 X Tumansky RD-9 turbojet.
Speed:        909 mph, 1,455 km/h

Mig 19
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MIG 21

Still active in some countries air defense forces, the MIG 21, NATO codename "Fishbed" was one of the fastest planes of its era.   The MIG 21 could outrun many later modern fighters with its powerful tumansky afterburning engine.   It is estimated that 8000 MIG-21's were manufactured, which is more than any other supersonic aircraft.    The 21 has a climb rate of nearly 24,000 feet pet minute, making it a formidable interceptor.  

Armament: 3 x 30 mm NR-30 Cannon, 550 lbs of bombs or rockets on underwing hardpoints. 
Engines:      1 X Tumansky RD-9 turbojet.
Speed:        909 mph, 1,455 km/h

Mig 21

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GLOSTOR JAVELIN

The last aircraft to bear the Gloster nameplate, the Javelin was active with the British RAF in the 50's and 60's.   The Javelin had a two man crew of Pilot and radar operator, and was originally designed to be a bad weather and night interceptor.    Less than 450 were built, all of which are now retired.    

Armament: 3 x 30 mm NR-30 Cannon, 550 lbs of bombs or rockets on underwing hardpoints. 
Engines:      1 X Tumansky RD-9 turbojet.
Speed:        909 mph, 1,455 km/h

Glostor Javelin
 
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