F-105 Thunderchief in the Vietnam War

The Republic F-105 Thunderchief was an American fighter-bomber that earned fame during the Vietnam War. Entering service in 1958, the F-105 underwent a series of mechanical issues that led to the fleet being grounded on multiple occasions. These were largely resolved and due to its high-speed and superior low-altitude performance, the Thunderchief was deployed to Southeast Asia in 1964. From 1965 onward, the type flew the bulk of the US Air Forces strike missions in Vietnam as well as frequently conducted Wild Weasel (suppression of enemy air defenses) missions. The F-105 was largely retired from frontline service after the war and the last Thunderchiefs left reserve squadrons in 1984. Origins Design of the F-105 Thunderchief began in the early 1950s as an internal project at Republic Aviation. Intended to be a replacement for the F-84F Thunderstreak, the F-105 was created as a supersonic, low-altitude penetrator capable of delivering a nuclear weapon to a target deep within the Soviet Union. Led by Alexander Kartveli, the design team produced an aircraft centered on a large engine and able to achieve high speeds. As the F-105 was meant to be a penetrator, maneuverability was sacrificed for speed and low-altitude performance. Design and Development Intrigued by Republics design, the US Air Force placed an initial order for 199 F-105s in September 1952, but with the Korean War winding down reduced it to 37 fighter-bombers and nine tactical reconnaissance aircraft six months later. As development progressed, it was found that the design had grown too large to be powered by the Allison J71 turbojet intended for the aircraft. As a result, they elected to utilize the Pratt Whitney J75. While the preferred power plant for the new design, the J75 was not immediately available and as a result on October 22, 1955, the first YF-105A prototype flew powered by a Pratt Whitney J57-P-25 engine. Though equipped with the less powerful J57, the YF-105A achieved a top speed of Mach 1.2 on its first flight. Further test flights with the YF-105A soon revealed that the aircraft was underpowered and suffered from problems with transonic drag. To counter these issues, Republic was finally able to obtain the more powerful Pratt Whitney J75 and altered the arrangement of the air intakes which were located at the wing roots. Additionally, it worked to redesign the aircraft fuselage which initially employed a slab-sided look. Drawing on experiences from other aircraft producers, Republic employed the Whitcomb area rule by smoothing the fuselage and slightly pinching it in the center.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Repubilc F-105D Thunderchief GeneralLength: 64 ft. 4.75 in.Wingspan: 34 ft. 11.25 in.Height: 19 ft. 8 in.Wing Area: 385 sq. ft.Empty Weight: 27,500 lbs.Loaded Weight: 35,637 lbs.Crew: 1-2PerformancePower Plant: 1 Ãâ€" Pratt Whitney J75-P-19W afterburning turbojet, 26,500 lbf with afterburning water injectionCombat Radius: 780 milesMax Speed: Mach 2.08 (1,372 mph)Ceiling: 48,500 ft.ArmamentGuns: 1 Ãâ€" 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon, 1,028 roundsBombs/Rockets: Up to 14,000 lbs. of ordnance including nuclear weapons, AIM-9 Sidewinder, and AGM-12 Bullpup missiles. Weapons carried in the bomb bay and on five external hardpoints. Refining the Aircraft The redesigned aircraft, dubbed the F-105B, proved able to achieve speeds of Mach 2.15. Also included were improvements to its electronics including the MA-8 fire control system, a K19 gun sight, and an AN/APG-31 ranging radar. These enhancements were required to allow the aircraft to conduct its intended nuclear strike mission. With the alterations complete, the YF-105B first took to the sky on May 26, 1956. The following month a trainer variant (F-105C) of the aircraft was created while the reconnaissance version (RF-105) was canceled in July. The largest single-engine fighter built for the US Air Force, the production model of F-105B possessed an internal bomb bay and five external weapons pylons. To continue a company tradition of employing Thunder in its aircraft names, which dated back to World War IIs P-47 Thunderbolt, Republic requested that the new aircraft be designated Thunderchief. Early Alterations On May 27, 1958, the F-105B entered service with the 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron. As with many new aircraft, the Thunderchief was initially plagued by problems with its avionics systems. After these were dealt with as part of Project Optimize, the F-105B became a reliable aircraft. In 1960, the F-105D was introduced and the B model transitioned to the Air National Guard. This was completed by 1964. The last production variant of the Thunderchief, the F-105D included an R-14A radar, an AN/APN-131 navigation system, and an AN/ASG-19 Thunderstick fire-control system which gave the aircraft all-weather capability and the ability to deliver the B43 nuclear bomb. Efforts were also made to restart the RF-105 reconnaissance program based on the F-105D design. The US Air Force planned to purchase 1,500 F-105Ds, however, this order was reduced to 833 by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. Issues Deployed to Cold War bases in Western Europe and Japan, F-105D squadrons trained for their intended deep penetration role. As with its predecessor, the F-105D suffered from early technological issues. These issues may have helped earn the aircraft the nickname Thud from the sound the F-105D made when it hit the ground though the true origins of the term are unclear. As a result of these problems, the entire F-105D fleet was grounded in December 1961, and again in June 1962, while the issues were dealt with at the factory. In 1964, the issues in existing F-105Ds were resolved as part of Project Look Alike though some engine and fuel system problems persisted for another three years. Vietnam War Through the early- and mid-1960s, the Thunderchief began to be developed as a conventional strike bomber rather than a nuclear delivery system. This was further emphasized during the Look Alike upgrades which saw the F-105D receive additional ordnance hard points. It was in this role that it was sent to Southeast Asia during the escalation of the Vietnam War. With its high-speed and superior low-altitude performance, the F-105D was ideal for hitting targets in North Vietnam and far superior to the F-100 Super Sabre then in use. US Air Force F-105 Thunderchiefs during Operation Rolling Thunder. US Air Force First deployed to bases in Thailand, F-105Ds began flying strike missions as early as late 1964. With the commencement of Operation Rolling Thunder in March 1965, F-105D squadrons began bearing the brunt of the air war over North Vietnam. A typical F-105D mission to North Vietnam included mid-air refueling and a high-speed, low altitude entry and exit from the target area. Though an extremely durable aircraft, F-105D pilots usually only had a 75 percent chance of completing a 100-mission tour due to the danger involved in their missions. By 1969, the US Air Force began withdrawing the F-105D from strike missions replacing it with F-4 Phantom IIs. While the Thunderchief ceased to fulfill a strike role in Southeast Asia, it continued to serve as a wild weasel. Developed in 1965, the first F-105F Wild Weasel variant flew in January 1966. F-105D Thunderchief cockpit. US Air Force Possessing a second seat for an electronic warfare officer, the F-105F was intended for a suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) mission. Nicknamed Wild Weasels, these aircraft served to identify and destroy North Vietnamese surface-to-air missile sites. A dangerous mission, the F-105 proved highly capable as its heavy payload and expanded SEAD electronics allowed the aircraft to deliver devastating blows to enemy targets. In late 1967, an enhanced wild weasel variant, the F-105G entered service. Later Service Due to the nature of the wild weasel role, F-105Fs and F-105Gs were typically the first to arrive over a target and the last to leave. While the F-105D had been completely removed from strike duties by 1970, the wild weasel aircraft flew until the wars end. In the course of the conflict 382 F-105s were lost to all causes, representing 46 percent of the US Air Forces Thunderchief fleet. Due to these losses, the F-105 was ruled to no longer be combat effective as a frontline aircraft. Sent to the reserves, the Thunderchief remained in service until officially being retired on February 25, 1984.

The Aging American Population Essay - 648 Words

The Aging American Population The American population has changed dramatically over the last century. Our society has become effected by this in all areas and walks of life. It is unknown what the future holds for America, but the statistical trends in an aging population may shed some light. The rate of aging in the United States will increase dramatically in the second and subsequent decades of the century. Within the United States, the size of the population over age 65 has soared during this century, increasing from 3†¦show more content†¦Though average length of hospital stays has decreased for those over 65, their visits to physicians are over twice as frequent as those under 65. With increases in age, the intensity of using health care resources increases: Those over 75, though only 5.5 percent of the total population in 1993, accounted for 28 percent of all hospital days. At the same time, the caregiver population comprised of both the elderly and non-elderly will be impacted by these changes. Aging is also an aspect of population dynamics that affects the level of poverty also. As fertility declines and the population ages, traditional family-based systems for providing old-age care may weaken, leaving the elderly vulnerable. The income security of older persons is a policy concern not only in developed countries but increasingly as well in developing countries such as China that have passed through the demographic transition. Between 2000 and 2050, the proportion of the population aged 65 and older will have doubled in most developing regions. This exponential increase in the aging populous could leave that generation drastically vulnerable. Not only would the health standard be effected but also the income producing majority. 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Ethical Dilemma for Confidentiality and Security -myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theEthical Dilemma for Confidentiality and Security. Answer: Ethics are moral principles or systematic concepts governing right or wrong conduct. These principles govern how a person behaves when conducting certain activities. The definition of ethics is wide depending on the particular field of interest, it could also mean moral codes or moral values, thus, distinguishing between good and evil, virtuous and non-virtuous. In a hospital context, ethical problems always arise making it difficult to distinguish if a decision is ethically right or not which most of the time is informed by someones religious and social cultural background (Klvemark et al., 2004). In this paper, we will be focusing on the dilemma that medical practitioners face when providing information to carers bearing in mind the patient/client confidentiality concerns and ethical implications. There are three concepts that have been used interchangeably in the medical fraternity, these are, confidentiality, ethics and security. Although, they all have different meanings entirely but they are linked together with the same goal. Confidentiality is the most commonly used concept and it refers to the obligations that medical practitioners who access patients records to hold this information in confidence. This obligation is supported by the code of ethics, principle I, which stipulates that individual right to privacy and confidentiality must be upheld and defended at all times. The dilemma that medical practitioners face when they feel that they ought to inform other affected parties about their patients medical records are dire both to the practitioner and the hospital. Even though it might feel like its the ethical thing to do, other factors have to be considered before breaking the patient/client confidentiality obligation (Seitz O'neill, 1996). Whether an issue is right or wrong, medical practitioners must always endeavor to honor the confidential relationship they have with their patients. Ethical dilemmas arises when an individuals moral principles overrides patients right to privacy and the patient/client confidentiality. Information in medical records is considered to be highly sensitive and private, thus, it should never be disclosed unless the patient consents (Smythe Murray, 2000). Several circumstances however, will allow the doctor to share personal medical records without express permission from the patient. This could only occur if the patients is in need of help, if the government requires the information and also, if the patient makes his/her health an issue in court (Lo, 2012). In conclusion, extensive ethical education is a good starting point to avoid ethical dilemma cases in hospitals. It is also imperative to sanction unethical behaviors in hospitals so as to reduce ethical dilemmas. Although it is a contentious issue, with a good ethical education background and strict adherence to ethical requirements in hospitals it will cease to be a problem to many medical practitioners. References Klvemark, S., Hglund, A. T., Hansson, M. G., Westerholm, P., Arnetz, B. (2004). Living with conflicts-ethical dilemmas and moral distress in the health care system.Social science medicine,58(6), 1075-1084. Lo, B. (2012).Resolving ethical dilemmas: a guide for clinicians. Lippincott Williams Wilkins. Seitz, J., O'neill, P. (1996). Ethical decision-making and the code of ethics of the Canadian Psychological Association.Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne,37(1), 23. Smythe, W. E., Murray, M. J. (2000). Owning the story: Ethical considerations in narrative research.Ethics Behavior,10(4), 311-336.