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.

Activated on May 25, 1953 as the 3600th Air Demonstration Team it wasn’t
until February 13, 1967 that they officially became the “Thunderbirds”. In May
1967 the team toured the UK and also made an appearance at the Paris
Airshow. For the 1966-68 seasons aircraft tail numbers were left off and a
large single digit; representing the aircraft position in the team was painted
on the rear of the fuselage. On October 21, 1967 the “Thunderbirds” lost one F-
100 when it disintegrated during a show at Laughlin, Texas. The pilot, Captain
Merrill Anthony McPeak ejected safely. In 1967 the “Thunderbirds” pilots were
- Ldr. Neil Eddins, Chris Patterakis, Stan Musser, Jack Dickey, Bob Beckel, M.
Tony McPeak, Bob Haney, Mike Miller.

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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