Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-100>HA2102

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

Formed in February 1940 as the 31st Pursuit Group it became a TFW in 1957, the same year they converted to F-100Ds. The 31st TFW commanded five F-100 squadrons in South Vietnam. Major Don Schmenk of the 308th TFS, known as the “Emerald Knights” painted two names on the nose of his F-100D. One was Carol Ann his daughter and the other was "Mary Jane” along with a little mouse. The last name and mouse were in honor of his wife.

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