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The '''F-100 Super Sabre''', AKA the “Hun” (for hundred) was an American fighter and fighter-bomber and the first production fighter plane to achieve supersonic speed in level flight.  It served with the [[US Air Force]] and some foreign countries.

The '''F-100 Super Sabre''', AKA the “Hun” (for hundred) was an American fighter and fighter-bomber and the first production fighter plane to achieve supersonic speed in level flight.  It served with the [[US Air Force]] and some foreign countries.

Like its predecessor, the F-86, the F-100 was a swept-wing design.  A single [[Pratt & Whitney]] turbojet drove the plane with a maximum speed of 770 mph (Mach 1.01) at low level and 864 mph (Mach 1.2) at high altitude.  It carried four 20-mm cannons in the nose (the last Air Force plane to do so) and had eight wing pylons for [[AIM-9 Sidewinder|Sidewinders]], fuel tanks, bombs, or [[AGM-12 Bullpup|Bullpup]] air-to-surface missiles.  The first model, the F-100A, was a day fighter, but later models, the F-100C and D, were designed as fighter-bombers.  The F-100D could carry nuclear bombs.<ref>''Military Aircraft Visual Guide'', ed. by David Donald, Aerospace Publishing Ltd., 2008</ref>  Almost 2300 F-100s were produced in total, most of them D models.

Like its predecessor, the F-86, the F-100 was a swept-wing design.  A single [[Pratt & Whitney]] turbojet drove the plane with a maximum speed of 770&nbsp;mph (Mach 1.01) at low level and 864&nbsp;mph (Mach 1.2) at high altitude.  It carried four 20-mm cannons in the nose (the last Air Force plane to do so) and had eight wing pylons for [[AIM-9 Sidewinder|Sidewinders]], fuel tanks, bombs, or [[AGM-12 Bullpup|Bullpup]] air-to-surface missiles.  The first model, the F-100A, was a day fighter, but later models, the F-100C and D, were designed as fighter-bombers.  The F-100D could carry nuclear bombs.<ref>''Military Aircraft Visual Guide'', ed. by David Donald, Aerospace Publishing Ltd., 2008</ref>  Almost 2300 F-100s were produced in total, most of them D models.

==Operational History==

==Operational History==

Like most other planes of the Century Series, including the [[F-104 Starfighter]] and [[F-105 Thunderchief]], the Super Sabre saw action in the [[Vietnam War]].  F-100s participated in the first strikes of [[Operation Rolling Thunder|Rolling Thunder]], defending the bombers against MiGs and suppressing AAA (anti-aircraft artillery).  On April 4, 1965, Hun pilot Captain Donald Kilgus shot down a [[MiG-17]] with his 20-mms, one of the first American aerial kills of the war.<ref>[http://www.dudes411.com/planes3.html  Cold War Fighter Planes 1954-1960]</ref>  Later in the conflict, two-seat F-100Fs were modified for attacking SAM sites, becoming the first Wild Weasels.<ref>''Rolling Thunder: Jet Combat From World War II to the Gulf War'', by Ivan Rendall, Dell Publishing, 1997</ref>  All F-100s had been withdrawn from the region by the time Rolling Thunder ended, replaced by the faster and more capable [[F-4 Phantom]].

Like most other planes of the Century Series, including the [[F-104 Starfighter]] and [[F-105 Thunderchief]], the Super Sabre saw action in the [[Vietnam War]].  F-100s participated in the first strikes of [[Operation Rolling Thunder|Rolling Thunder]], defending the bombers against MiGs and suppressing AAA (anti-aircraft artillery).  On April 4, 1965, Hun pilot Captain Donald Kilgus shot down a [[MiG-17]] with his 20-mms, one of the first American aerial kills of the war.<ref>[http://www.dudes411.com/planes3.html  Cold War Fighter Planes 1954-1960]</ref>  Later in the conflict, two-seat F-100Fs were modified for attacking SAM sites, becoming the first Wild Weasels.<ref>''Rolling Thunder: Jet Combat From World War II to the Gulf War'', by Ivan Rendall, Dell Publishing, 1997</ref>  All F-100s had been withdrawn from the region by the time Rolling Thunder ended, replaced by the faster and more capable [[F-4 Phantom]].

The F-100 enjoyed an almost thirteen year stint with the USAF Thunderbirds flight demonstration team, starting in 1956.  It was replaced briefly by the F-105 Thunderchief, but problems arose with the big fighter, and the Hun was quickly brought back.  The Super Sabre was finally retired from the team for good in 1969, replaced by the F-4 Phantom.<ref>[http://thunderbirds.airforce.com/home.html Thunderbirds Home Page]]</ref>

The F-100 enjoyed an almost thirteen year stint with the USAF Thunderbirds flight demonstration team, starting in 1956.  It was replaced briefly by the F-105 Thunderchief, but problems arose with the big fighter, and the Hun was quickly brought back.  The Super Sabre was finally retired from the team for good in 1969, replaced by the F-4 Phantom.<ref>[http://thunderbirds.airforce.com/home.html Thunderbirds Home Page]</ref>

==Foreign Service==

==Foreign Service==

===Taiwan===

===Taiwan===

[[Taiwan|Nationalist China]]’s first F-100s arrived in October of 1958, and the fleet grew to over 120 planes, mostly F-100As.  Nationalist Huns flew intelligence-gathering missions over mainland [[China]], and many of them never returned.  The details of those missions are still shrouded in secrecy.

[[Taiwan|Nationalist China]]’s first F-100s arrived in October 1958, and the fleet grew to over 120 planes, mostly F-100As.  Nationalist Huns flew intelligence-gathering missions over mainland [[China]], and many of them never returned.  The details of those missions are still shrouded in secrecy.

===Denmark===

===Denmark===

<references/>

<references/>

==External Links==

==External links==

*[http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/airdef/f-100.htm  North American F-100 Super Sabre at FAS.org]

*[http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/airdef/f-100.htm  North American F-100 Super Sabre at FAS.org]

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBPiHYmLLvs Thunderbirds F-100 Super Sabre] Youtube video

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBPiHYmLLvs Thunderbirds F-100 Super Sabre] Youtube video

==Further Reading==

==Further reading==

*''F-100 Super Sabre at War'', by Thomas Gardner, MBI Publishing, 2007

*''F-100 Super Sabre at War'', by Thomas Gardner, MBI Publishing, 2007

[[Category:Aircraft]]

[[Category:Aircraft]]

[[Category:United States Air Force]]

[[Category:United States Air Force]]