Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-100>HA2101
F-100D Super Sabre 481st TFS, Tan Son Nhut, 1965 Lt. Col. Harold Comstock
General Background
The North American F-100 Supersabre 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 Aircraft
Harold Elwood “Bunny” Comstock became a WWII ace with 5 destroyed aircraft in the air, 2 on the ground. He also had 1 probable, seven damaged and 22 locomotives. After WWII Comstock commanded the 389th FBS of F-86s and then the 481st TFS flying F-100s. Comstock continued his F-100 flying while commanding the 481st TFS, 27th FW during 2 tours in Vietnam. During 30 years of military service Comstock retired a Colonel awarded a DFC with 6 OLC (Oak-Leaf-Clusters), the Purple Heart, Presidential Citation and numerous other awards.
Specifications :
| Crew: | 1 |
| Dimensions: | |
| Length: | 50 ft (15.2 m) |
| Wingspan: | 38 ft 9 in (11.81 m) |
| Height: | 16 ft² 2¾ in (4.95 m) |
| Wing area: | 400 ft² (37 m²) |
| Weight: | |
| Empty weight: | 21,000 lb (9,500 kg) |
| Loaded weight: | 28,847 lb (13,085 kg) |
| Maximum take off weight: | 34,832 lb (15,800 kg) |
| Engine Performance: | |
| Powerplant: | 1× Pratt & Whitney J57-P-21/21A turbojet |
| Dry thrust: | 10,200 lbf (45 kN) |
| Thrust with afterburner: | 16,000 lbf (71 kN) |
| Aspect ratio: | 2 3.76 |
| Drag area: | 5.0 ft² (0.46 m²) |
| Zero-lift drag coefficient: | 0.0130 |
| Performance: | |
| Maximum speed: | 750 kn (864 mph, 1,390 km/h) |
| Range: | 1,733 NM (1,995 mi, 3,210 km) |
| Service ceiling: | 50,000 ft (15,000 m) |
| Rate of climb: | 22,400 ft/min (114 m/s) |
| Wing loading: | 72.1 lb/ft² (352 kg/m²) |
| Thrust/weight: | 0.55 |
| Lift-to-drag ratio: | 13.9 |
| Armament: | |
| Guns: | 4× 20 mm (0.787 in) M39 cannon |
| Missiles: | 4× AIM-9 Sidewinder Missiles or GAM-83 Bullpup Missile |
| Bombs: | 7,040 lb (3,190 kg) of weapons, including: |
| Conventional bombs or | |
| Mk. 7 nuclear bomb or | |
| Mk. 28 nuclear bomb or | |
| Mk. 38 nuclear bomb or | |
| Mk. 43 nuclear bomb or | |
| Mk. 57 nuclear bomb or | |
| Mk. 61 nuclear bomb | |
| Avionics: | Minneapolis-Honeywell MB-3 automatic pilot |
| AN/AJB-1B low-altitude bombing system |