The RF-84F Thunderflash is a reconnaissance derivative of the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak. It looks different with camera equipments in the nose. The Thunderflash camera equipment in the nose required that the engine intake was moved to 2 air intakes in the wing root (so not in the nose).
RF-84F Thunderflash Belgium
The Belgian air force operated also some 34 reconnaissance RF-84F Thunderflash aircraft in the 1960s and 1970s. This camouflaged aircraft coded "FR-28" is on display at the Belgian Luchtvaartmuseum in the Jubelpark, Brussels (B).
Photographed 2016 by Meindert de Vreeze, (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
RF-84F Thunderflash USAF
This Thunderflash was delivered January 1958 and operated by several USAF squadrons, also overseas in Japan. It is shown in a Vietnam like camouflage pattern. It is on loan from the USAF museum and on display at the Pima Air and Space museum, Tucson, Az.
Photographed 2016 by Cees Hendriks, (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
RF-84K USAF FICON
This Thunderflash F-84K has the serial 52-7265. It is a special version for the USAF ‘FICON’ project. The idea was to carry this modified RF-84 by a B-36 Peacemaker to extend the range. The theory was good but in practice the ‘hook-up’ proved difficult. Some RF-84Ks were manufactured 1955 but the project was cancelled a year later. It was seen at the Planes of Fame Museum at Chino, California, USA.
Photographed 2016 by Cees Hendriks, (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
Some plastic scale model kits have been issued in the last 50 years of the Thunderflash, often in odd scales. In 1/72 there is a now rare Italeri model and the better PJ resin model. In 1/48 TAN model has a nice kit.
The Netherlands Air Force used the Thunderstreak and Flash. Enthusiasts, modellers and historians may look at the KLu Operational History at our IPMS Nedmil pages here....
This new separate walk around web page was first created October 2017 by M. de Vreeze