After the F-100 joined the Air Force in 1954, the type was found to offer superior performance to existing U.S. fighters. But the F-100’s aerodynamic deficiencies were also obvious.
Developed from the highly regarded Korean War-era first generation fighter, the F-86 Sabre, the F-100 Super Sabre was the first jet of the Century Series—and the first U.S. Air Force fighter to ever reach supersonic speed in level flight. While North American built the F-100 without solicitation from the Air Force, the type would catch on; nearly 2,300 were produced between 1953 and 1959. Today, only one F-100 is still airworthy, the last of its kind.
Introducing the F-100 Super Sabre
The idea for an upgraded version of the F-86 Sabre began percolating at North American in the late 1940s. The idea would eventually manifest in the F-100, which began flight testing as a prototype in 1953. Prototype testing revealed that the F-100 was quite fast—able to leave its F-86 chase plane in the dust.
Indeed, the F-100 would go on to set a variety of speed records: among others, it set the 1953 world speed record of 755 mph at low altitude; the 1955 supersonic speed record of 822 mph; and 1955 Bendix Trophy for covering 2,235 miles at an average speed of 610 mph. But prototype testing also revealed a series of significant problems—namely yaw instability and inertial coupling, in which the aircraft spins along multiple axes simultaneously.
Still, the F-100’s development and production was rushed; the Air Force even purchased the jet before it had been properly vetted through flight testing. Why? Because of perceived advancements in Soviet jet capability, the Air Force was eager to field a faster, more capable aircraft of their own.
The Super Sabre’s Safety Problems
After the F-100 joined the Air Force in 1954, the type was found to offer superior performance to existing U.S. fighters. But the F-100’s aerodynamic deficiencies were also obvious; the F-100 was involved in several major accidents—not surprising for an aircraft that was quickly rushed to the front line.
The Air Force grounded their new jet in late 1954 while an investigation was conducted. It found that the F-100 suffered from flight instability, structural failures, and hydraulic failures. Still, the Air Force returned the F-100 to service in early 1955, although it immediately made plans to phase out the problematic aircraft to make room for upgraded, less deficient variants.
F-100As did remain in service, however—for better and worse. By 1961, 47 F-100As had been lost in major accidents.
Despite its myriad safety problems, the F-100 achieved a slew of notable firsts. For example, in 1959, the F-100 became the first fighter jet to ever fly over the North Pole. In 1956, it became the first aircraft to ever perform in-air ‘buddy’ refueling; it set a distance record for single-engine aircraft when it covered the 6,710-mile flight between London and Los Angeles in 14 hours and four minutes. And perhaps most importantly, it was the first U.S. combat jet to ever participate in the Vietnam War, though it was to be superseded by more advanced aircraft by the conflict’s heyday.
Today, the F-100 is all but extinct. Just one of the roughly 2,300 F-100s built remains airworthy—the last of what was once the fastest jet in the skies.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a senior defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
Image: Shutterstock / BlueBarronPhoto.
