F-100D Super Sabre, Escadron de chasse 4/11 "Jura," Djibouti, 1978 (1:72)

The North American F-100 Super Sabre 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 F-100 suffered from landing gear and brake parachute failures, electrical problems, 500 of the 1,274 F- 100Ds that were built were lost mostly due to these failures.

In 1973 the French Air Force created the squadron EC 4/11 �Jura� equipped with 12 F-100Ds. They were based near the Red Sea at Air Base 188, in the French protectorate of Djibouti. On May 24,1978 Jura�s F-100Ds had flown 100,000 hours so to commemorate this an aircraft was painted with a shark�s mouth. It was so popular that the remaining 11 F-100Ds were given the same paint scheme and were referred to as the �Sharks of the Red Sea�. The F-100Ds were replaced by Mirage IIIs in 1978.

Specifications for the F-100D

Primary function

Fighter-Bomber

Engine
1 X Pratt & Whitney J57-P-21/21A turbojet, 10,200 lb.st. dry and 16,000 lb.st. with afterburning.

Dimensions
Wingspan 38 ft 9 in
Length - 50 ft 0 in
Height - 16 ft 2 3/4 in
Wing area - 400 sq. ft.

Performance
Maximum speed - 770 mph at sea level (clean), 864 mph (Mach 1.3) at 36,000 ft (clean).
Initial climb rate - 19,000 ft/min. An altitude of 35,000 ft could be attained in 2.3 minutes.
Service ceiling - 36,100 ft, combat ceiling 47,700 ft, absolute ceiling 50,000 ft.
Normal range - 534 mi, maximum range 1,995 mi.
Fuel capacity � 1,739 US gallons internally, total of 2,139 gallons if maximum external fuel is carried.

Weights
Empty - 21,000 lbs
Gross - 28,847 lbs
Maximum T/O - 34,832 lbs

Armament
4 X 20-mm Pontiac M-39 cannon
6 X under-wing pylons for up to 7,040 lbs of bombs, fuel tanks, or rockets.
1 X MK-28 or Mk-43/57/61 nuclear weapon could be carried.
In later versions, 4 X AIM-9B/E/J Sidewinder air-to-air infrared homing missiles could be carried.