Operating the F-100F Super Sabre (ground/flight footage)

After our very successful F100 video (thanks to all of you!), we’ve had requests for different edits of this flight, including more external views of what the ground crew is up to during these outings! I hope you enjoy this “different” look at the same flight where I included more external videos plus some onboard corresponding footage, as well as some voiceover explanations here and there. Enjoy!

Thanks to Collings Foundation and Vietnam War Flight Museum plus all of the volunteers for making this flight/video possible!

Photo Credit for thumbnail: Allen Pierce

If you wish to learn more and/or donate directly to keeping these birds (and others like them) flying, visit these websites:

[planemech]

I spent 6 years of my career on J-57s in F-8 Crusaders. I was an engine mech and high power engine operator. Seems like lots of differences between F-8s and F-100s in how things work. I never had a compressor stall problem on the ground except for one time when I was told to make it chug no matter what. All the chugs in F-8s happened at altitude when the bleed valve governor failed. Also, never had to bleed the hydraulic systems when the engine was running. Aboard ship during Vietnam we had 5 minute alert planes on the cat ready to start with the pilot in the cockpit. The plane would have had all systems checked with a short run and then shut down. When the call came to launch, the huffer would be started and as soon as it was ready air would hit the engine starter. Hose and power would be disconnected, canopy down, downlocks off, cat holdback and shuttle hooked up and within 3 minutes the plane would launch!! Anytime the engine would be shutdown the fuel pressurization and dump valve( P&D) would dump fuel from the engine manifold out the bottom of the plane. I didn't see that on the F-100. Great video and I'm sure it was a lot of fun to fly. Too bad F-8s aren't allowed to be flown. Thanks a lot

[chrishackett]

The Century Series of tactical aircraft are some of the coolest ever built. A couple of Snake Eyes under the wings and in business!

[jeffjames]

Thanks for all the work you put into these videos. The explanations are also informative. You have a great crew! Keep these awesome birds flying!

[rs]

Wow, great to see a Thud still flying! Last saw this 'in real life' when the Michigan ANG had them at Selfridge (my B-I-L flew them back in the mid-70s).

[Rainer-tncw]

Do you have a video on how you maintain these aircraft? Source of spare parts, engine overhaul? The joy of seeing these aircraft still take to the sky, amazing. Last year, centrale Europe, we had a Viggen and a Draken at the KB airshow and you could see the exitement in the crowd. These aircraft have something about them😊!

[thetench]

Awesome video! Was really interesting hearing about all that's going on around the aircraft as it's being started, taxied and flown! Hearing how all the hydraulics work on startup is cool. Can't wait to see the next video! On another note, I did my first ever landing in a glider last weekend which I flew on my own for the whole landing under instruction by the instructor! Still absolutely buzzing about it, certainly something i'll never forget.

[FlyingAceAVB]

Absolutely amazing you have this thing flying.

[tbolt]

I grew up during the Vietnam War and built many models of the Warbirds of that time. My brother was Black Ops on EC-47s out of Pleiku and EC-135s out of, er, other locations. He died in 2018 from Agent Orange. He had problems with the VA because his file was TS.

[jaymagnum]

These footage are extremely valuable and fun to watch, thank you. I love the old Hun and this a gem seeing how it flies in hi-def. I like old jets using drag chutes as well and I understand the concern for limiting speeds even to lower values but I thought they're most effective at speeds above 60kts so isn't waiting down to 100-120kts kinda decrease efficiency? I also remember pilots being cautious for not to drag them too long on taxi to avoid damaging them or leave any FOD. First time I've seen a chute dragged all the way to parking.

[The_Plastic_Ape]

Always great to see the F-100 in action. I might have to make another video now :-)

[Eurka]

i heard that f100 is a jet that is really hard to fly and crashed a lot in airforce, so really admire you can fly that aircraft so flat and smooth

[henryharvey]

Flying my Hun from Ellington Field in FSX!

[Josephsaviationvp]

What a great video…a dream but maybe one day i can fly in one.

[ShadesOClarity]

Great footage. What was Rick Sharpe's main aircraft? I assume he might have been a Tomcat and later a Hornet guy.

[pakkelly]

It looks like a three ring binder and water bottle on the front cockpit dash. How do these stay in place during an aileron roll? Have you noticed any debris or dust falling to the canopy when inverted? How long can this aircraft stay inverted? When these flew with the Thunderbirds were they modified for inverted flight? Kudos to all the ground crew.

[wadesaxton]

Do the hydraulics need to be bled on every flight?? Or is this a by product of long periods between flights?

[AlanToon-fyhg]

Is your F-100F an ex Danish AF one? I know those were retofitted with M-B seats.
Our local ANG flew F-100's from late 1973 thru late 1978 when they received F-105G's...

[Thunder_]

Hope they can finish off the camo paint. Of course, that's a last priority.

[natemarmy]

I live near Ellington and went to flying tigers for years what would it take to get involved in something like this?

[briansilcox]

Jerod, are the flight control computers solid state or vacuum tube driven?