F-100 Super Sabre 'The Hun' | North American Supersonic Jet Fighter | FULL DOCUMENTARY

The North American F-100 Super Sabre, full documentary. The "Hun" is an American supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard (ANG) until 1979. The first of the Century Series of USAF jet fighters, it was the first USAF fighter capable of supersonic speed in level flight. The F‑100 was designed by North American Aviation as a higher-performance follow-on to the F-86 Sabre air-superiority fighter.

Adapted as a fighter-bomber, the F-100 was superseded by the high-speed Republic F-105 Thunderchief for strike missions over North Vietnam. The F‑100 flew extensively over South Vietnam as the air force's primary close air-support jet until being replaced by the more efficient subsonic LTV A-7 Corsair II The F‑100 also served in other NATO air forces and with other U.S. allies. In its later life, it was often referred to as the "Hun", a shortened version of "one hundred".

n January 1951, North American Aviation delivered an unsolicited proposal for a supersonic day fighter to the United States Air Force. Named Sabre 45 because of its 45° wing sweep, it represented an evolution of the F-86 Sabre. The mockup was inspected on 7 July 1951, and after over 100 modifications, the new aircraft was accepted as the F-100 on 30 November 1951. Extensive use of titanium throughout the aircraft was notable. On 3 January 1952, the USAF ordered two prototypes followed by 23 F-100As in February and an additional 250 F-100As in August.

The YF-100A first flew on 25 May 1953, seven months ahead of schedule. It reached Mach 1.04 on this first flight in spite of being fitted with a derated XJ57-P-7 engine. The second prototype flew on 14 October 1953, followed by the first production F-100A on 9 October 1953. The USAF operational evaluation from November 1953 to December 1955 found the new fighter to have superior performance, but declared it not ready for wide-scale deployment due to various deficiencies in the design. These findings were subsequently confirmed during "Project Hot Rod" operational suitability tests.

Six F-100s arrived at the Air Proving Ground Command (APGC), Eglin Air Force Base, in August 1954. The Air Force Operational Test Center (AFOTC) was scheduled to use four of the fighters in operational suitability tests and the other two were to undergo armament tests by the Air Force Armament Center. The Tactical Air Division of the AFOTC was conducting the APGC testing under the direction of project office Lieutenant Colonel Henry W. Brown. Initial testing was completed by APGC personnel at Edwards Air Force Base.

Particularly troubling was the yaw instability in certain flight conditions, which produced inertia coupling. The aircraft could develop a sudden yaw and roll, which would happen too fast for the pilot to correct and would quickly overstress the aircraft structure to disintegration. Under these conditions, North American's chief test pilot, George Welch, was killed while dive testing an early-production F-100A (s/n 52-5764) on 12 October 1954.

Another control problem stemmed from handling characteristics of the swept wing at high angles of attack. As the aircraft approached stall speeds, loss of lift on the tips of the wings caused a violent pitch-up. This particular phenomenon (which could easily be fatal at low altitude with insufficient time to recover) became known as the "Sabre dance".

Nevertheless, delays in the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak program pushed the Tactical Air Command (TAC) to order the raw F-100A into service. TAC also requested that future F-100s be fighter-bombers, with the capability of delivering nuclear bombs.

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 50 ft (15 m)
Wingspan: 38 ft 9 in (11.81 m)
Height: 16 ft 2.75 in (4.9467 m)
Wing area: 400 sq ft (37 m2)
Aspect ratio: 3.76
Airfoil: NACA 64A007
Zero-lift drag coefficient: CD0.0130
Drag area: 5.0 sq ft (0.46 m2)
Empty weight: 21,000 lb (9,525 kg)
Gross weight: 28,847 lb (13,085 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 34,832 lb (15,800 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney J57-P-21/21A afterburning turbojet engine, 10,200 lbf (45 kN) thrust dry, 16,000 lbf (71 kN) with afterburner
Performance

Maximum speed: 924 mph (1,487 km/h, 803 kn)
Maximum speed: Mach 1.4
Range: 1,995 mi (3,211 km, 1,734 nmi)
Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)
Rate of climb: 22,400 ft/min (114 m/s)
Lift-to-drag: 13.9
Wing loading: 72.1 lb/sq ft (352 kg/m2)
Thrust/weight: 0.55
Armament
Guns: 4× 20 mm (0.787 in) M39A1 revolver cannon each with 200 rounds per gun
Hardpoints: 6 with a capacity of 7,040 lb (3,190 kg), with provisions to carry combinations of:
Missiles: ** 4× AIM-9 Sidewinder or
2× AGM-12 Bullpup or
2× or 4× LAU-3/A 2.75" (70 mm) unguided rocket dispenser
Bombs: Conventional bombs or Mark 7, Mk 28, Mk 38, or Mk 43 nuclear bombs
Avionics
Minneapolis-Honeywell MB-3 automatic pilot
AN/AJB-1B low-altitude bombing system
AN/APR-26 rearward radar warning

#F100 #SuperSabre #aircraft

[tomcarroll]

I grew up in the Fifties across a field from the North American plant. The sign on top said, "HOME OF THE SUPER SABER." I just remember the airplane from pictures in the Monthly NAA magazine. This was a really good time and place to grow up for a kid like me.

[kellywalker]

My father flew F-100s. Years later as an adult, I learned about the "Sabre Dance". I asked him how they landed those planes and he said, "you better be paying attention" and then he smiled. Fighter pilots are a different breed.

[papabear]

My experience with the F100 was first as a plastic model with incredible sleek lines. My next experience was in in 1970 in Vietnam in what was called the”Iron Triangle” as we were heading toward Fire base Redleg. We had paused by a road where our unit was active when the CO came running back yelling get out of here. I turned around and in my face was a pair of f100s who then dropped their pairs of Napalm canisters above our heads.

The forward motion pushed them tumbling over the elephant grass and then the next pair followed with the same result.

[robertcocciardi]

I guarded many F-100 D’s while stationed at RAF Lakenheath, Great Britain, 1967-1971 as a Security Policeman. My hearing loss was inevitable. Either way, I am proud to have served. Anderson, Dudley, Wetherby, Brigadier General Gailor, Dyette,

[krystalstarrett]

F 100, first jet I ever turned wrenches on as a USAF crew chief.

[Odinist]

When I was much younger I was on a motorcycle entering Nevada cruising 100mph+ with the road to myself, when a guy in an F100 at low level & near stalling speed passes on my left, like he wanted to get a good look at my ride. For fifteen seconds my life became an action movie ;)

[underworldgameshd]

This plane I feel like is greatly overshadowed by the f4 phantom. This plane is my favorite and in my opinion is better looking than the phantom.

[shelleibach]

Great video with fantastic historical pictures and F100 is also my favorite turbine rc jet. tks much for this

[andrewlabat]

My mom has pictures of her brother next to his F100.. I think the F86 and F100 are two of the best looking planes ever.. Both so clean a sleak looking..

[zfleming]

I was an A2C assigned to a TACP with the 5th Inf. Div. (M) Ft. Carson, CO in 63-65. I worked directly for the ALO, LtCol Clyde Strain. He kept his F-100 flight time current at Buckley ANG Base, Co. He was able to get the F-100F (2 seater) and somehow got me in the back seat during one of his flights. He took off and told me to not touch anything except the mike button as if we had to eject he'd punch us out. We took off and headed east over Kansas and then he told me we'd break the sound barrier for about a minute over the unoccupied farm land. I'm now 79 but have never forgot my flight after my 20+ years on active duty.

[elwoodlodge]

August, 1967, days after my 7th birthday, my family was moving from Florida to Arizona and as we rolled down the Highway we heard an extremely loud BOOM and two airplanes streaked overhead close enough for my Father (An avid aviation buff) to exclaim those are F100s. They shouldn't be so fast so low! It turned out we were passing next to White Plains, New Mexico, a military gunnery range. I still have no idea why they were so fast and so low but for the next 2 years I would be out playing with friends (in Phoenix, Arizona) and we would hear a Sonic boom and I would say with certainty to my friends "F100s!". 😁

[daughterofthesouth]

Wow, does this bring back some happy childhood memories. Thanks!

My dad was head of the medical clinic at Çigli AB in the early 1960s, so we saw LOTS of those Super Sabres while we were living on base. LOTS. My brother and I loved watching them!

Two big events at Çigli AB come to mind: one, not Hun related, when the Jupiter missiles were brought back to the base for destruction after the Cuban Missile crisis agreement between the US and USSR. It was quite the sight to see those big missiles coming into the base on trailers behind semi trucks. (Minus warheads, of course)

Another, February 1964 - thirteen F-100s came in after nearly 12 hours flying time. They had had several tanker aerial refuelings, and some were at night. A record at the time I think. 308th Fighter Squadron?

Question re. use in Viet Nam. Were the Super Sabres part of Ia Drang?

Thanks again. Love your documentaries.

[RalphBaca-hs]

My Dad was a member of the 188th New Mexico I miss you Dad

[duanephillips]

You did a really great job with this video. I am working on an F-100D model in Vietnam colors and wanted to see a good summary of the aircraft with video. You delivered - kudos..

[BarnyDaddy]

The Thunderbirds flew them for many years. One hell of a fighter!

[dukeiiigmail]

Must be one of the historical aircraft videos with the best photography.

[joshriver]

I used to talk planes with my grandfather for hours on end. We built models and rc planes together until I was in my late 30s. He even donated a Beechcraft Staggerwing to the Wright Pat Air Museum which is on display to this day.
I knew he flew during the Korean Conflict. But only recently discovered he flew the F100 supersabre when I found a black and white photo in a small jewelry box i inherited after his death, of him standing next to the F100 suited up along with a Mach Busters pin. I thought it was odd he never told me.

[tomlavelle]

I always thought the F100 Thunderbirds were awesome.

[michaelbandeko]

I was a Navy J57 intermediate level mechanic. I got to wrench on a F100 transient A/C that was broken at NAS Alameda.

[Idahoguy]

The F-86 & F-100 benefited from captured Luftwaffe flight research & German scientists brought to the USA