[Fictional] Republic Aviation F-84J Thunderstreak 3

Republic F-84J Thunderstreak for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2:EUROPE

This is a simple mod of the stock Third Wire F-84F to give a fictional F-84J Thunderstreak of the Finnish Ilmavoimat (Finnish Air Force) with markings for Fighter Squadron 11 and Fighter Squadron 31.

BACKSTORY

With Finland being ever anxious to maintain it's neutrality it was surprising that in June 1954 the Finnish government elected to purchase the Republic Thunderstreak F-84J. However, in typically Finnish fashion the purchase of 40 F-84J's was organised via the Swedish government and the aircraft chosen could hardly be called 'state of the art' being essentially a warmed-up F-84F Thunderstreak with the General Electric J73-GE5EX engine (non-afterburning and rated at 9,000lbs thrust) shoehorned in. No munitions were supplied and SAAB were chosen to prepare the aircraft for Ilmavoimat service with four British Hispano V 20mm cannon replacing the six 0.5 calibre machine guns of the standard F-84F and giving the F-84J a strong 'neutral' flavour throughout, even to the extent of carrying mainly British, Swedish or Soviet weapons. Entering service with HavLLv31 in 1956 the aircraft equipped two squadrons and at least gave the Ilmavoimat a taste of a 'modern' swept-wing fighter although the F-84J was certainly no F-86 Sabre and, presumably, that was the whole point!

INSTRUCTIONS

1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-84J folder into your Aircraft folder.

2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-84J folder into your main Decals folder.

That's it!! 

CREDITS

As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.

Special thanks to ludo.m54 for the superb F-84F templates.

And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.

Regards

Spinners

Version 3 - November 26th, 2023.