F-100

also called Super Sabre, jet fighter aircraft, the first developed for the U.S. Air Force to exceed the speed of sound in level flight. It was operational from 1953 to 1973. It was made by North American Aviation, Inc., and it became the principal tactical fighter of the U.S. Tactical Air Command and was adopted by various NATO countries. The F-100C had a wingspan of 38 feet (11.58 m) and was 47 feet (14.33 m) long. It was a single-seat, low-wing monoplane with wings swept back 45 degrees. Its maximum speed was 822 miles per hour (1,323 km/h) at 35,000 feet (11,000 m), and its ceiling was over 50,000 feet (15,000 m). The Super Sabre was armed with four 20-millimetre cannons. Under the wings it could carry up to 6,000 pounds (2,700 kg) of bombs or a variety of air-to-air and air-to-surface rockets and missiles. The F-100 saw extensive service in the Vietnam War.