There is something nice about an airplane, which not only is a marvel of technology but also carries with it the tales of the people who constructed it, flew it, and maintained it. The North American F-100 Super Sabre is one such aircraft. The first fighter of the U.S. Air Force to exceed the speed of sound in level flight, this achievement marked the beginning of the dawn of a new age in aviation and ushered in the jet era.
George S. Welch took the YF-100A on its first flight on May 25, 1953, at Edwards Air Force Base, pushing the plane beyond Mach 1.03. It was not only a technological milestone—it was a paean to will and ambition at a time when speed and technological superiority were scales of national power.
Dubbed “The Hun,” the F-100 paved the way for the highly publicized “Century Series” supersonic fighter planes of the 1950s and 1960s. The sleek, swept-wing airframe combined with the highly powerful Pratt & Whitney J57 engine had a top speed of up to Mach 1.4 and a combat radius that made it a commodity. The Super Sabre set the standard as to what a supersonic fighter had to be able to do in terms of performance and combat capability.
But F-100 history is more than metal and numbers. Through the decades, it evolved from hot-fast air superiority fighter to hard-workin’ ground attack animal. The C and D models, for their part, were American warhorses of the early days of the Vietnam War, providing close air support that was decisive on most missions.
Veterans and pilots such as Ken Ramsay, a MAPS Air Museum board member, remember that the F-100 flew more combat missions than any other fighter in Vietnam, with thousands of dogfights. It was hazardous to fly. Early development models experienced stability issues that led to dangerous flight conditions, such as the infamous “Sabre Dance.”
Pilots Barty Ray Brooks, George S. Welch, and Geoffrey Dalton Stephenson were killed flying the plane to the extremes of its performance, but their deaths spurred design enhancements that made the jet a more stable and safer aircraft.
What is so special about the F-100 is the people around it—pilots, mechanics, volunteers, and collectors who contribute hundreds of hours of documentation and keep its history current. It can take years to restore a Super Sabre, a labor of love, and airbases like the Iowa Air National Guard at Sioux City show how old-school pilots and new techs join together and work to get these jets flying, paying respects to those who served before them.
Museums like Ohio’s MAPS Air Museum and the Fort Worth Aviation Museum not only have aircraft on exhibit, but more importantly, have the stories of the aircraft on exhibit. Displays use artifacts, personal belongings, and tales of gallant pilots such as Medal of Honor winner Colonel George “Bud” Day to make the history of the F-100 come alive for all visitors.
The meticulous rebuilding and restoration of vintage jets, such as Mojave Desert resident F-100 tail number N418FS, testify to the perseverance and craftsmanship involved in preserving these aircraft. Groups of engineers, veterans, and volunteers work day and night to make the planes motivating— not as relics, but as operational reminders of genius, valor, and camaraderie.
To the pilots and crews who flew the F-100, it was more than all metal and rivets. It was a friend. Flight feel, flight thrill, and friendships made in the flightline were something to remember for a lifetime. Every restored aircraft and museum display does the heritage proud and keeps the story alive.
The F-100 Super Sabre’s legacy lasts much longer than that of firepower or speed. It’s a tribute to innovation, courage, and friendship, poured into every refurbished airplane, every memory that’s recalled, and every life it touched by “The Hun.” Its soul is still flying—both in the skies and in the hearts of all who hold it near.