The aircraft pictured is not the YRF-84F, but the YF-96A.
Republic received the designation when making a swept-wing
version of their F-84 Thunderjet. It was called the YF-96A.
The swept-wing F-84F Thunderstreak, was designed with a larger engine than the straight-wing F-84 Thunderjet, so the air intake was designed as a large vertical oval, not circular, as pictured. The RF-84F Thunderflash was a swept-wing aircraft with air intakes at the wing roots, not the nose cowling. The aircraft pictured is actually the FICON version. This aircraft was designed with a nose hook apparatus that enabled it to be carried inside a bomber bomb bay to operate as a parasite fighter to protect the bomber. It was not a very successful program. 05/27/2004 @ 12:03 [ref: 7487]