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The Republic
XF-84H "Thunderscreech" was an experimental turboprop aircraft
derived from the F-84F Thunderstreak. Powered by a turbine engine that was
mated to a supersonic propeller, the XF-84H had the potential of setting the
unofficial air speed record for propeller-driven aircraft, but was unable to
overcome teething aerodynamic deficiencies, resulting in the program's
cancellation in 1956.
NOISE:
The XF-84H was quite possibly the loudest aircraft ever
built (rivaled only by the Russian Tupolev Tu-95 "Bear" bomber),
earning the nickname "Thunderscreech".
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On the ground “run-ups” could reportedly be heard
25 miles away.
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The blades on the XF-84H’s propeller traveled
faster than the speed of sound, producing a continuous visible sonic boom
that radiated laterally from the propellers for hundreds of yards.
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The shock wave was actually powerful enough to
knock a man down.
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The aircraft was notorious for inducing severe
nausea and headaches among ground crews.
·
In one report, a Republic engineer suffered a
seizure after close range exposure to the shock waves emanating from the
aircraft.
SPEED:
The Guinness Book
of World Records recorded the XF-84H as the fastest propeller aircraft
ever built, with a top speed design of 673 miles per hour and 623 miles per
hour. This claim has been disputed. The unofficial speed record based on data
from the National Museum of the United States Air Force is 520 miles per hour
(mach 0.70). Nevertheless, the XF-84H held the record as the fastest single-engine
propeller-driven aircraft until 1989 when “Rare Bear” a highly modified
Grumman F-86 Bearcat reached 528 mph.
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| REPUBLIC XF-84H IN FLIGHT WITH THE RAM AIR TURBINE EXTENDED |
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