1955: The Republic YF-105A Thunderchief exceeded the speed of sound on its first flight at Edwards AFB. The Republic F-105 Thunderchief served with the USAF from 1958 to 1984. Capable of Mach 2, it was originally designed as a single-seat, nuclear-attack aircraft; a two-seat Wild Weasel version was later developed for the specialized Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) role against surface-to-air missile sites. The F-105 was commonly known as the “Thud” by its crews because of the sound it made when the afterburner lit. (USAF image)
