F-100 Super Sabre

F-100 Super Sabre
Name	F-100 Super Sabre
Caption	An F-100F in flight, 1979.
Type	Fighter-bomber
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	North American Aviation
Designer	Edgar Schmued
First flight	25 May 1953
Introduction	27 September 1954
Retired	1979 (United States Air Force)
Status	Retired from military service
Primary user	United States Air Force
More users	French Air Force, Turkish Air Force, Republic of China Air Force
Number built	2,294
Developed from	North American F-86 Sabre
Developed into	North American F-107

F-100 Super Sabre. The North American F-100 Super Sabre was the world's first operational supersonic jet fighter capable of level flight, entering service with the United States Air Force in 1954. Designed by Edgar Schmued at North American Aviation as a successor to the famed North American F-86 Sabre, it became a cornerstone of Tactical Air Command and saw extensive combat during the Vietnam War. Despite early stability problems that led to the "Wings and Things" investigation, it evolved into a potent and long-serving fighter-bomber for the U.S. and several allied nations.

Development and design

The development of the F-100 was initiated by North American Aviation in the late 1940s as a private venture, designated the NA-180, to create a supersonic successor to the Korean War-proven North American F-86 Sabre. Led by chief designer Edgar Schmued, the team created a larger airframe with a distinctive swept wing and a powerful Pratt & Whitney J57 turbojet engine. The prototype, the YF-100A, first flew on 25 May 1953 at Edwards Air Force Base with test pilot George Welch at the controls, reportedly exceeding the speed of sound on its maiden flight. The design incorporated a low-mounted tailplane and an afterburner, but early production models suffered from fatal inertial coupling and stability issues, leading to a grounding and a redesign that included increasing the vertical stabilizer area and wingspan.

Operational history

The F-100A entered service with the United States Air Force's Tactical Air Command in September 1954, but its early career was marred by a high accident rate. Following modifications, the improved F-100C and definitive F-100D models became the backbone of U.S. forces in Europe and Pacific Air Forces. Its most significant combat use was during the Vietnam War, where it flew hundreds of thousands of sorties as a close air support and interdiction aircraft, notably in operations like Operation Rolling Thunder and the Battle of Khe Sanh. The two-seat F-100F variant was also used for Wild Weasel SAM suppression missions. It served with the United States Air National Guard into the 1970s and was also a key aircraft for several NATO allies.

Variants

The primary variants included the initial **F-100A** day fighter; the **F-100C** with improved fuel capacity and underwing hardpoints; and the definitive **F-100D** with an autopilot, boundary layer control system, and enhanced avionics for delivering tactical nuclear weapons. The **F-100F** was a two-seat combat-capable trainer, some of which were converted for Wild Weasel duties. Other models included the reconnaissance **RF-100A** and the **QF-100** drone conversion. Several variants were also produced under license by Canadair for the Royal Danish Air Force.

Operators

The primary operator was the United States Air Force, including frontline units with Tactical Air Command and later the Air National Guard. Major international operators included the French Air Force, which used them extensively during the Algerian War; the Turkish Air Force; the Republic of China Air Force on Taiwan; and the Royal Danish Air Force. Other operators were the Greek Air Force and the South Vietnam Air Force. Many were transferred to allied nations through programs like MAP.

Specifications (F-100D)

* **Crew:** 1 * **Length:** 50 ft (15.2 m) * **Wingspan:** 38 ft 9 in (11.81 m) * **Height:** 16 ft (4.7 m) * **Empty weight:** 21,000 lb (9,525 kg) * **Powerplant:** 1 × Pratt & Whitney J57-P-21/21A turbojet with afterburner * **Maximum speed:** 864 mph (1,390 km/h) at 35,000 ft * **Range:** 1,500 mi (2,400 km) * **Service ceiling:** 50,000 ft (15,000 m) * **Armament:** 4 × 20 mm M39 cannon; up to 7,500 lb (3,400 kg) of ordnance on 6 hardpoints, including general-purpose bombs, Bullpup missiles, and LAU-3 rocket pods.

Notable appearances in media

The F-100 has been featured in several films depicting the Vietnam War, such as The Green Berets (1968) starring John Wayne. It also appears in documentaries about the era, including episodes of the series Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War. The aircraft is a frequent subject in aviation photography books and is showcased at museums like the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Category:Military aircraft of the United States Category:Fighter aircraft