F-100A (China)

This page is about the jet fighter F-100A (China). For other versions, see F-100 (Family).

␗F-100A

␗F-86F-40

␗F-104A

␗F-100A

␗F-86F-40

␗F-104A

China

VI Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
9.7	9.3	9.7

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Research:190 000

Purchase:520 000

Show in game

Description

The ␗F-100A Super Sabre is a rank VI Chinese jet fighter with a battle rating of 9.7 (AB/SB) and 9.3 (RB). It was introduced in Update 1.97 "Viking Fury".

The first supersonic jet available in the ROCAF fighter line of the China tree, the F-100A is an early variant of the famous "Super Sabre", though in Taiwanese service it received a number of upgrades to bring it up to par with later models. Compared to the fighter-bomber F-100D, it has a smaller wing with a straight trailing edge, fewer hardpoints, and no flaps. It also has an early J57P7 engine that produces less thrust than the D model's J57P21. The speed and acceleration remain comparable since the F-100A is a few tons lighter.

The F-100A's handling generally feels lighter than the F-100D and it enjoys a better roll rate, though the lack of flaps impacts low speed manoeuvrability. The weapons selection is definitely inferior: while it can still carry goodies like the AGM-12B Bullpup and the AIM-9B Sidewinder, its bomb selection is far more limited, unguided rockets are unavailable, and it lacks access to the more advanced AIM-9E Sidewinder. If flown well the F-100A will only face serious competition from fellow supersonics like the French F-100D and the English Electric Lightning.

General info

Flight performance

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Drogue parachute

Reduces braking distance when landing on any runway

Max speed

at 10 671 m1 458 km/h

Turn time29 s

Max altitude15 240 m

EnginePratt & Whitney J57P21

Type

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight13 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 10,671 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	1,357	1,349	15240	29.5	30.3	104.7	93.2	900
Upgraded	1,387	1,370		28.5	29.0	139.1	121.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
X	X	X	✓	X	✓

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
1361	447	N/A	N/A	N/A	~11	~4

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 640	< 540	< 610	N/A

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
Pratt & Whitney J57P7		1	9,079 kg		315 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)			Max Takeoff Weight
Weight (each)	Type		9m fuel	20m fuel	31m fuel
900 kg	Afterburning axial-flow turbojet		9,737 kg	10,489 kg	11,272 kg	13,141 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition	100%	WEP	9m fuel	20m fuel	31m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	3,383 kgf	5,616 kgf	0.58	0.54	0.50	0.43
Optimal	4,004 kgf (1,200 km/h)	8,056 kgf (1,200 km/h)	0.83	0.77	0.71	0.61

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural1 361 km/h

Gear447 km/h

• 64 mm bulletproof glass: windscreen
• 12.7 mm steel: behind pilot

For post-war fighter jets wanted to take advantage of the newer jet technology and maximize both speed and ordnance carried. To keep up speed and maximize ordnance, something had to give and that came with pilot survivability. The idea is to be faster than the enemy which would make it really difficult for them to get a targeting solution on you. Though the F-100A does have protection for the pilot, it isn't much and leaves the rest of the critical components virtually unprotected with armour. For the pilot, the back of the seat and headrest maintains a continuous piece of steel at 12.7 mm thick and the windscreen is rated at 64 mm bulletproof windscreen. Typically this type of protection is meant more for protection from defensive turret attacks from bombers rather than gun attacks from other aircraft.

The F-100A is a relatively sturdy aircraft and can take a beating before critical components begin to fail. While the engine and the pilot are important to protect as much as possible (without the engine you don't go and without the pilot…you don't go…) the wings are another critical component which you must protect as hits to the wings can make flying very difficult or send you to the respawn point. If being tailed by another aircraft try to speed away because if you try to pull up, turn to the side or pull-down, you risk exposing increased surface area of the skin, giving the enemy pilot more to shoot at and a greater opportunity of taking out a wing. If possible, increase speed and sway back and forth, even some very shallow elevator dips up and down maybe enough to throw off the sighting of the enemy pilot and spray his bullets all around you without exposing very much surface area of the jet, however, if there is a missile launch, take evasive action to avoid the missile and worry about the guns later.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 076 → 4 155

RB10 118 → 13 669

SB9 897 → 13 370

Total cost of modifications168 600

263 000

Talisman cost2 600

Crew training150 000

Experts520 000

Aces2 400

Research Aces950 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

120 / 380 / 600 %

220 / 220 / 220 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 8 400 Cost: 13 000 350 Compressor Research: 8 400 Cost: 13 000 350 Airframe Research: 7 600 Cost: 12 000 310 New boosters Research: 7 600 Cost: 12 000 310 Wings repair Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 580 Cover Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 450 Engine Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 450 G-suit Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 450		M116A2 Research: 8 400 Cost: 13 000 350 Mk82 Research: 8 400 Cost: 13 000 350 t_160_belt_pack Research: 7 600 Cost: 12 000 310 M117 Research: 7 600 Cost: 12 000 310 AGM-12B Bullpup Research: 7 600 Cost: 12 000 310 M65 Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 580 AIM-9B Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 580 t_160_new_gun Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 450 AIM-9E Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 450

Armaments

Offensive armament

The F-100A (China) is armed with:

• 4 x 20 mm M39A1 cannons, chin-mounted (200 rpg = 800 total)

Suspended armament

The F-100A (China) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
• 2 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (1,500 lb total)
• 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 Fin M129 bombs (2,000 lb total)
• 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles
• 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles

Usage in battles

The F-100 is absolutely crippled in an uptier situation. Unlike the F4 Phantom II or the MiG-21, the F-100 is equipped with leading-edge slats. This gives it a much higher angle of attack at low speeds, allowing the F-100 to out-turn both the F4 and the MiG-21. However, pulling so many G-forces and dropping speed so severely makes it become an easy kill for even AIM-9E missiles. At its battle rating, the F-100 is best at Boom & Zoom tactics. Constantly be aware of your speed, as at low speeds your plane becomes sluggish, and at high speeds the plane can lock up severely in spite of its all-flying tail and boosted controls, losing most of its control authority (particularly in its rolling axis). It is capable of very high angles of attack, so once you get on someone's tail, it will be very difficult for them to shake you. However, again beware of your speed as floundering around at subsonic speeds leaves you vulnerable to interception. The best way to use the F-100A in the face of constant uptiers is to start climbing away from the battlefield, returning as support once more capable fighters have engaged the enemy. 5,000 m is usually a good altitude to climb to. In the off chance that you encounter subsonic aircraft, Boom & Zoom tactics should be used to capitalize on your superior climb rate. Climb high, make a pass, then climb away. Be extremely careful to not bleed energy and don't turn when subsonic planes are around as they will be able to outmanoeuvre the F-100A.

Against the MiG-19, turning isn't a bad idea if you keep your energy up. You'll bleed a lot of speed in a turn, so extreme pulls aren't recommended especially considering the MiG-19's superior energy retention in turns. The MiG-19 will rip easily at high speeds, something the F-100 doesn't have a problem with, though reaching those speeds effectively dooms the Super Sabre to degrees of manoeuvring lockup similar to that experienced by its foe. However, the MiG-19 accelerates much faster than the F-100 at all speeds and altitudes so it can slip away easily. In the best-case scenario, bait the MiG-19 for a teammate, as the MiG-19 can't do much against two F-100s.

The F-100 is an amalgamation of paradoxical design features that results in an aircraft too heavy to sustain manoeuvring engagements despite of its strong slats, too slow to accelerate to its surprisingly high rip speeds, and too sluggish at speed to take advantage of its strong armament, all while being near incapable of matching the performance demands of its BR-peers at 10.3. Overall to get this bus to perform, it must be at high speeds. Keep your energy up.

Radars

The F-100A is equipped with an AN/APG-30 rangefinding radar, located in the nose of the aircraft. It will automatically detect other planes within the scanning area and display the range to the closest target. It is linked with a gyro gunsight and can help with aiming at close range.

AN/APG-30 - Rangefinding radar
Maximum Tracking Range	Minimum Tracking Range	Azimuth Tracking Angle	Elevation Tracking Angle
2,750 m	300 m	±9°	±9°

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Excellent guns that have both high muzzle velocity, rate of fire, plenty of ammo (200 rpg), and pack a good punch with high-explosive shells
• Can carry a wide array of suspended armaments of bombs, rockets and missiles
• Its air-to-air missiles (AIM-9B) have a longer reach than the missiles on the MiG-19PT
• Fast and out-accelerates both MiG-15s and MiG-17s
• Good manoeuvrability for a large supersonic jet

Cons:

• Sluggish at slow speeds
• Afterburner will not provide much acceleration in short time because of the low air intake
• Acceleration with afterburner is slower than the J32B and G.91 YS
• Suffers from severe lock-up past Mach 1
• Loses a lot of energy when trying to turn around at high speed
• While fast, it still accelerates a lot slower than MiG-19PT

History

In the early Cold War era, the Republic of China Air Force was equipped with US jet aircraft like the F-86 Sabre and F-84 Thunderjet, which were used in clashes with the People's Republic of China over the Taiwan Straits. Amid growing conflict in 1958, a number of assorted F-100 Super Sabres were delivered to Taiwan, including the F-100A, the two-seat F-100F, and the reconnaissance RF-100A. The former were upgraded with a number of features from the latest F-100D, such as a taller vertical tail fin and wiring for Sidewinder missiles. Another batch of F-100s was delivered in the 1970s and the type remained in service until the 1980s.

The F-100 was not an easy aircraft to handle and several were lost in accidents. The details of their combat experiences are unclear. They may have fought with PLAAF jets but it is unknown if any kills or losses were scored. The RF-100As in particular were only used for about two years before being returned to the United States due to unsatisfactory capabilities and maintenance issues. The ROCAF was the only foreign user of the F-100A.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the F-100A (China) from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance

North American Aviation
Fighters
P-51A	P-51 · P-51A
P-51C	P-51C-10
P-51D	P-51D-5 · P-51D-10 · P-51D-20-NA · P-51D-30
P-51H	P-51H-5-NA
Twin-engine fighters	F-82E
Jet fighters	F-86A-5 · F-86F-2 · F-86F-25 · F-86F-35 · F-100D
Strike aircraft	A-36 · PBJ-1H · PBJ-1J
	FJ-4B · FJ-4B VMF-232
Bombers	B-25J-1 · B-25J-20
Export/Licence	▂B-25J-30 · ␗B-25J-30
	▄Mustang Mk IA · F-6C-10-NA · ␗P-51C-11-NT · ␗P-51D-20 · J26 David · J26 · P-51D-20-NA · ␗P-51K
	F-86F-30 ▅ · ␗F-86F-30 · F-86F-40 ▅ · F-86F-40 JASDF▅ · ␗F-86F-40
	◄F-86K · ▄F-86K (Italy) · ▄F-86K (France)
	␗F-100A · ▄F-100D · ␗F-100F
Captured	▅P-51C-11-NT
	Canadair Limited license-built the F-86 as the CL-13 for use in Canada and export to Europe.
	Fiat license-built the F-86K for the Italian Air Force though another 120 NAA built F-86Ks were also sold to the Italians.
See Also	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries · Canadair Limited · Fiat Aviation