Hobby Master Archive
Air Power Jets 1/72
F-100
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 F-100A was notorious for difficult handling with a tendency to go into a flat spin forcing the pilot to eject. Even then there was a possibility of the aircraft striking the pilot. Another problem was a tendency for the J-57 engines to flame out causing several crashes. The F-100A finally became operational with the USAF in September 1955 but in 1958 the accident prone F-100A began a phase out that was completed in 1961. By this time 47 of the 203 F-100As were lost in accidents.
The F-100 was the first fighter to attain supersonic speed in level flight. With the new role as a fighter/bomber the F-100C had improvements over the “A” variant such as a strengthened wing with six hard-points to carry up to 5,000 pounds of bombs, rockets, fuel tanks or a Mk. 7 nuclear weapon. The F-100C also received a new electronic bombing system and an in-flight re-fueling probe. A new engine increased speed at altitude by 40 mph and reduced time to climb to 35,000 feet by 10 percent.
The “D” variant was the ultimate version of the F-100 with 1,274 aircraft being produced. The production of the F-100 ended in August 1959. The F-100D arrived in Southeast Asia in 1962 with its primary mission being close air support and ground attack within South Vietnam. This role was eventually taken over by the A-7 Corsair II. The aircraft became affectionately known as “The Hun”, short for “one HUNdred”. The last F-100 left Vietnam in July 1971 but not before 242 of these aircraft was lost. The “Hun” was eventually replaced by the F-4 Phantom II and the F-105 Thunderchief.
