North American F-100D ‘Super Sabre’

Built by North American Aviation, this was the world’s first production supersonic aircraft. It served as a fighter-bomber during the Vietnam War; and was used by the USAF “Thunderbirds” for many years. It is equipped with an aerial refueling boom under the right wing. The family resemblance to the earlier F-86 Sabrejet is apparent, but the performance with the afterburning engine is significantly enhanced.

The museum’s aircraft is a F-100D, USAF S/N 56-3288, and was built in Inglewood, California. It was assigned to the 493rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 48th Tactical Fighter Wing (USAFE), first at Toul-Rosieres AB, France, then at Lakenheath AB, England. In March 1972 it went to the 131st Tactical Fighter Group (ANG), St. Louis, Missouri. It was retired to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona in December 1975, and flown to the museum in 1983.

A total of 2,294 F-100s were built, of which 1,274 were F-100Ds. Although built as a fighter, the airplane was never credited with an aerial victory. However, it excelled as a fighter-bomber in Viet Nam where Super Sabres flew 360,283 combat sorties, a number that exceeded the total number of combat sorties flown by 15,000-plus P-51 Mustangs in World War II.

The aircraft has recently been repainted as F-100D-41-NH, S/N 55-3777 to reflect the appearance of the hundreds of F-100s that served in Vietnam. S/N 55-3777 was an aircraft of the 90th TFS/3rd TFW stationed at Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam in 1969, where its primary pilot was Jack Doub. He had obtained sponsorship from the Riviera Casino in Las Vegas, and named the airplane “Miss Riviera”. It then operated with the 35th TFW stationed at Phan Rang until January 1970 when it was lost due to engine oil system failure during takeoff. Tail Codes were used throughout the USAF as a way to identify the squadron to which an aircraft was assigned. The “CB” on the tail identifies the airplane as being assigned to the 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron.

Specifications

Serial Number: 55-3777
Crew: One
Powerplant: One Pratt & Whitney J57-P-21A turbojet with afterburner, 11,700 lbs thrust (52.0 kN)

Dimensions:
• Length: 47 ft 7 in (14.5 m)
• Height: 16 ft 3 in (5.0 m)
• Wingspan: 38 ft 8 in (11.8 m)

Weight:
• Max: 28,000 lbs (12,700 kg)

Performance

Maximum speed: Mach 1.39 (927 mph / 1,495 km/h)
Service ceiling: Over 51,300 ft (15,635 m)

Armament

Four 20 mm M-39E cannon with 200 rounds per gun.
Six under-wing pylons for up to 6,000 lbs of bombs or rockets.

THIS AIRCRAFT IS ON LOAN FROM THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE