The F-84F Thunderstreak was developed as a swept-wing evolution of the straight-wing F-84 Thunderjet, first flying on November 22, 1952, and entering U.S. Air Force service the following month with the 40th Tactical Fighter Wing, the first unit to operate the type. Demand created by the Korean War helped fund additional production, and the F-84F went on to replace the Thunderjet in numerous NATO air forces. A total of 2,711 Thunderstreaks were built, with the majority produced by Republic Aviation and several hundred more by General Motors.
Aircraft Specifications
Physical Description
All-metal, single-seat jet fighter-bomber with swept wings and tail surfaces, a single dorsal air intake, and a deepened fuselage to accommodate its engine.
Crew: 1
Length: 43 ft 5 in
Wingspan: 33 ft 7 in
Weight (empty / max takeoff): 13,830 lbs / 27,000 lbs
Maximum speed: 685 mph
Service ceiling: 44,450 ft
Weapons
Armament (type, as designed): Six .50 caliber M-3 machine guns.
Ordnance (type, as designed): Up to 6,000 lbs, including bombs and 5-inch rockets.
Key Accomplishments
From 1955 to 1956, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flight demonstration team flew the F-84F before transitioning to the F-100 Super Sabre.
Of the 2,711 Thunderstreaks built, roughly half were delivered to NATO air forces — making the F-84F one of the most widely distributed Western fighter aircraft of the early Cold War.
This aircraft (Bureau #52-6555) served with both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Air National Guard after its active-duty retirement, then spent over three decades on static display at a flight school before the Museum acquired it.
Build Date
1953 (delivered 1953–1954, consistent with F-84F production timeline)
Manufacturer
Republic Aviation Corporation
Dates of Service
1953/1954 – 1971
Country of Origin
United States
Inventory Number
Bureau #52-6555
Credit
Owned by the Museum.
Display Status
This aircraft was retired from active duty service in 1962 and subsequently flown by both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Air National Guard for several years before its final retirement from National Guard service in 1971. It was then placed on static display at the Bucks County Aviation School, where it remained until the school was sold in 2005. The Museum acquired the aircraft in 2006 and restored it to the markings of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, placing it on display in 2011.
Status: On display.
