Republic F-105 Thunderchief. This is another Jake Burrus aircraft I have been able to bring to the flightsim world. Originally introduced in 1958 as a low-level nuclear weapons delivery aircraft in the middle of the Cold War, this aircraft became the backbone of conventional bombing during most of the Vietnam War. As a testament to the aircraft's role, the bravery of its pilots, and the ferocity of the North Vietnamese air defense network, nearly half of the 833 airframes were lost in combat operations. Due to the extensive combat use of the Thud, it had a relatively short service life, with limited use after Vietnam, until the aircraft's final retirement in 1984. This is part 1 of 2 parts, and represents the use of the F-105B/D/F from 1958-1966; to include 16 model variants and 131 repaints; but includes all of the F-105B units including those used post-Vietnam by ANG and AFRES units. Aircraft model by Jake Burrus and Mike Pearson, master textures and repaints by Mike Pearson, flight dynamics by Mike MacIntyre. Please read the documentation contained in the file.