The North American F-100 Super Sabre served the USAF from 1954 to 1971
and the ANG until 1979. The F-100 commonly referred to as the “Hun”, a
shortened version of “one hundred” was the first US fighter capable of
attaining supersonic speed in level flight. The Hun was used extensively as
close-air-support in South Vietnam. The F-100 suffered from landing gear and
brake parachute failures, electrical problems, 500 of the 1,274 F- 100Ds that
were built were lost mostly due to these failures.

The 309th TFS “Dusty Ducks” arrived at Tuy Hoa AB, South Vietnam on December 6,
1966 and remained there until September 8, 1970. The 31st TFW commanded five F-100
squadrons and was the most important F-100 wing in South Vietnam. It flew interdiction
strikes, reconnaissance, rescue combat patrol and attacked enemy anti-aircraft locations.
The 31st TFW squadrons took part in the Tet Offensive, the Siege of Khe Sanh and the
extraction of friendly troops from Kham Duc. The 31st reached 100,000 combat sortie
milestone in September 1969. In 1970 the 309th returned to Homestead AFB and began
flying the F-4.

Specifications North American Aviation (F-100D)

General characteristics
Crew: 1

Dimensions
Length: 50 ft (15.2 m)
Wingspan: 38 ft 9 in (11.81 m)
Height: 16 ft 2¾ in (4.95 m)
Wing area: 400 ft² (37 m²)

Weights
Empty weight: 21,000 lb (9,500 kg)
Loaded weight: 28,847 lb (13,085 kg)
Maximum take-off weight: 34,832 lb (15,800 kg)

Engine Performance
Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney J57-P-21/21A turbojet
Dry thrust: 10,200 lbf (45 kN)
Thrust with afterburner: 16,000 lbf (71 kN)
Zero-lift drag coefficient:: 0.0130
Drag area: 5.0 ft² (0.46 m²)
Aspect ratio: 3.76

Performance
Maximum speed: 750 kn (864 mph, 1,390 km/h)
Range: 1,733 NM (1,995 mi, 3,210 km)
Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)
Rate of climb: 22,400 ft/min (114 m/s)
Wing loading: 72.1 lb/ft² (352 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 0.55
Lift-to-drag ratio: 13.9

Armament
Guns: 4× 20 mm (0.787 in) M39 cannon
Missiles: 4× AIM-9 Sidewinder Missiles or GAM-83 Bullpup Missile
Bombs: 7,040 lb (3,190 kg) of weapons, including
Conventional bombs or
Mk. 7 nuclear bomb or
Mk. 28 nuclear bomb or
Mk. 38 nuclear bomb or
Mk. 43 nuclear bomb or
Mk. 57 nuclear bomb or
Mk. 61 nuclear bomb

Avionics
Minneapolis-Honeywell MB-3 automatic pilot
AN/AJB-1B low-altitude bombing system

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