Alexander Kartveli

Georgian-born Alexander Kartveli designed three generations of Republic fighters that defined American air power. The P-47 Thunderbolt was the heaviest single-engine fighter of World War II, devastating in the ground-attack role. The F-84 Thunderjet brought jet power to tactical aviation. The F-105 Thunderchief carried the burden of the early air war over North Vietnam, flying more missions against the North than any other aircraft. Each was bigger, heavier, and more capable than its predecessor -- Kartveli believed in power.