The F-84B-26 is a American strike aircraft. It was introduced in Update 1.39. The F-84B-26 is known for its versatile payload and decent top speed, but lacklustre in terms of acceleration. The Thunderjet does well at destroying ground targets, given the quantity and quality of payload.
The F-84 Thunderjet was Republic's attempt to convert from piston-engine aircraft to turbojets. F-84B featured here is primarily the same aircraft as the final test version the YP-84A, except that it had faster firing M3 Browning machines guns. Due to unmitigable problems, the F-84B (and F-84C) fleet only had a short four-year operational run before being withdrawn from service.
True to life, the in-game version of the F-84B has a relatively weak turbojet engine, though while it struggles to take off and gain altitude, once at altitude the fighter begins to shine. The F-84B while not going to break many records does have relatively good level flight and dive speed. The maximum speed of the F-84B was limited to 0.8 Mach (613 mph or 987 km/h), flying faster resulted in catastrophic skin buckling or wing twist and shear due to the wing-tip fuel tanks which is a real concern when flying in realistic and simulator battles. This maximum speed limitation can cause issues, especially when flying against the Soviet MiG-15 which has a higher max speed.
Even though the F-84B has an extremely long takeoff roll, this aircraft can be loaded with a variety of suspended armaments which other comparable fighters cannot compare to. The F-84B is an incredibly stable platform and is also outfitted with six 12.7 mm M3 Browning machine guns for targets of opportunity. Since each gun only has 300 rounds of ammunition, trigger control is necessary or else the pilot will be left with empty guns in short order. Considered a multi-role aircraft, the F-84B can be utilized as a fighter-interceptor, bomber interceptor and ground attack fighter. The F-84B can be laden with a variety of bombs ranging from 100 lbs all the way up to two 1,000 lb bombs. HVAR and Tiny Tim rockets are a viable option alone or mixed with bombs to expand the options of targets to be attacked depending on the map the pilot is flying in.
Like many jet fighters, flying slowly makes for an easy target and this is no exception for the F-84B. Speed is necessary to ensure manoeuvrability both to engage a target and to shake a tail. Don't expect this fighter when laden down with two 1,000 lbs bombs or two Tiny Tim and 8 HVAR rockets to excel in a dogfight as it won't with all that weight, however, after all that ordnance is released the F-84B can then mix it up, though it is preferable to maintain speed while performing Boom & Zoom manoeuvres. The F-84B will help newer jet pilots get used to the basics of the aircraft before upgrading to the F-84G.
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Belt | Belt filling | Armor penetration (mm) at a distance: | |||||
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10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1000 m | 1500 m | 2000 m | ||
API-T/AP/AP/I | 30 | 27 | 20 | 13 | 9 | 6 | |
AP-I/AP-I/API-T/I/I | 28 | 26 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 4 | |
API-T/I/AP/AP/AP-I/AP-I | 30 | 27 | 20 | 13 | 9 | 6 | |
API-T | 28 | 26 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 4 | |
AP-I/I/AP-I/I | 28 | 26 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 4 |
Name | Weight | Slot | ||||||
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125.6 kg | ||||||||
534.2 kg | ||||||||
49.9 kg | ||||||||
117.9 kg | ||||||||
242.6 kg | ||||||||
500.8 kg |
Flight performance | |
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Survivability |
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Weaponry | ||
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