SPACEPHOTOS

This photo shows a Republic Aviation Corporation YRF-84F Thunderstreak (51-1828 -- NACA tail number 154) on the ramp at the NACA High-Speed Flight Research Station in 1954. Early in 1952 Republic developed a reconnaissance version of the YF-84F Thunderstreak but built only one of them. The nose was elongated to take the camera equipment and faired in. The intakes were relocated from the nose to the wing-root, retaining the swept wing, but with fences added for improved airflow. The canopy was retained from the old Thunderjet-type, YF-84A. The NACA High-Speed Flight Research Station obtained this aircraft in 1954, using it for pilot proficiency flights until 1955.