Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-100>HAS2114
F-100D Thunderbirds USAF, 1967
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
Activated on May 25, 1953 as the 3600th Air Demonstration Team it wasn't
until February 13, 1967 that they officially became the "Thunderbirds". In May
1967 the team toured the UK and also made an appearance at the Paris
Airshow. For the 1966-68 seasons aircraft tail numbers were left off and a
large single digit; representing the aircraft position in the team was painted
on the rear of the fuselage. On October 21, 1967 the "Thunderbirds" lost one F-
100 when it disintegrated during a show at Laughlin, Texas. The pilot, Captain
Merrill Anthony McPeak ejected safely. In 1967 the "Thunderbirds" pilots were
- Ldr. Neil Eddins, Chris Patterakis, Stan Musser, Jack Dickey, Bob Beckel, M.
Tony McPeak, Bob Haney, Mike Miller.
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 |