F-100C Super Sabre Wing Commander Col. George Laven Jr., 479th TFW (1:72)

The F-100 was the first fighter to attain supersonic speed in level flight. With the new role as a fighter/bomber the F-100C had improvements over the 'A' variant such as a strengthened wing with six hard-points to carry up to 5,000 pounds of bombs, rockets, fuel tanks or a Mk. 7 nuclear weapon. The F-100C also received a new electronic bombing system and an in-flight re-fueling probe. A new engine increased speed at altitude by 40 mph and reduced time to climb to 35,000 feet by 10 percent.

The 479th Wing Commander Colonel George 'Ravin'' Laven Jr. selected a new F-100C for his personal aircraft. Its serial was 54-2076, the same last four digits of the P-38 he flew in 1942-43. In four years Colonel Laven logged over 2,000 hours and was the only military officer during that time to ever fly the aircraft. After several years the aircraft went to the New Mexico ANG who spent time in Vietnam. Upon returning to the US 2076 along with 91 other F-100Cs were sold to Turkey and flew until the early 1980's.

Specifications for the F-100C Super Sabre:

Manufacturer ' North American Aviation
Type of aircraft ' originally a fighter - later a fighter/bomber
Number 'C' models built ' 476
Last aircraft produced ' April 1956
Last aircraft accepted ' July 1956
Crew ' 1 X pilot

Engine ' 1 X Pratt & Whitney J57-P-21 turbojet,
10,200 lb.s.t. dry / 16,000 lb.s.t. with afterburning.

Internal fuel capacity - 1702 US gal.
External tanks - 437 US gal.
Total ' 2,139 US gal.

Weights:
Empty - 19,270 lbs.
Maximum take-off ' 32,615 lbs.

Performance
Maximum speed:
760 mph at sea level
924 mph at 35,000 ft.

Initial climb rate - 21,600 ft/minute
Climb to 35,000 ft - 2.3 minutes
Service ceiling - 38,700 ft
Combat ceiling - 49,100 ft
Normal range - 572 miles
Maximum range - 1954 miles

Dimensions:
Wingspan - 38 ft 9 in
Length - 47 ft 1 1/4 in
Height - 15 ft 6 in
Wing area - 385 sq ft

Armament:
4 X 20-mm Pontiac M-39 cannon, plus external loads of up to 5000 pounds of bombs, rockets, or fuel tanks carried on six under-wing hard points.