Could a F-100 Super Sabre be able to compete in today's air combat environment against at least 4th gen aircra

Question

The F-100 Super Sabre is a 2nd gen fighter. 4th gen fighters include the F-14, F-16, and the F/A-18c hornet. These are american examples of fourth generation fighters. More info on fighters can be found here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighter_aircraft. Please use this address for any comparisons.

Answer 1

Doubtful. Even the F-15 is being phased out due to the higher capabilities of the newer planes.

In it's original configuration the armament was no where near as sophisticated as today's planes.

With that in mind, ultimately it may come down to the pilot; a great one in a 2nd rate plane can compete with a poorly trained one in a superior airframe.

Answer 2

I am afraid not. The F-100 has no radar and a huge turn radius compared to the new planes it is also a very thirsty beast that isn't the fastest thing in the sky. The odds are that the new planes would pick off the 100 at long range with missiles long before the 100 could respond and even in a dogfight the newer planes can all turn inside the 100's radius and have a acceleration edge to boot. The F-100's pilot would have to be the best damn pilot I ever saw to come out on top even against mediocre to poor pilots.

Answer 3

The F-100 would have the speed but not the firepower to stay in the air with a modern fighter. The F-14 is out of service and not an option. The F-16 is as fast but vastly more maneuverable and has far greater weapons capability. The Super Sabre would be toast. The F/A-18 Hornet would not bother with the Sabre at close range but would down it from miles away. Twice the speed, ten times the firepower. No contest.

Answer 4

What it comes down to time and again is NOT the Machine. It's the Pilot. And as a Maintainer it PAINS ME TO NO END to say something GOOD about a Flight Stick Actuator.


Given that, at range any 3-4th Gen would eat it alive the radar and avionics have advanced so much that the Sabre would be toast. In Gun Range? It would come down to the Pilot.

And no Ninja the Tomcat is Retired.

Answer 5

No - the F-100 will not be able to stand up to the current 4th generation fighter aircraft. The reasons, apart from great technical advances in fighters, are:-

a) A poor reputation in all phases of flying.
b) Unpredictable handling characterstics.
c) Lack of reliability in its systems.
d) Obsolete and inadequate firepower.
e) Poor maneouvering in close combat.

Sadly, it did not live up to its predecessor, the good old reliable F-86 Sabre.

Answer 6

Unlikely.

While the skill of the pilot is most important in similarly capable aircraft it would be overshadowed by the vast differences between 4th and 2nd Gen aircraft.

Better radar means 4th gen weapons would kill the f-100 before it could find the 4th gen planes.

Answer 7

They would not compete very well. After all, if they were still good enough to compete there wouldn't be two or three generations of aircraft after them.

But, if you were to update the electronics on the F-100 to allow it to carry ECM equipment and use modern variants of the Sidewinder missile it would still be a threat. Realistically, not a great threat. Too slow, too sluggish and without long range radar guided missiles. But if you had really hot pilots in them, and used them carefully you could probably get a couple of kills, just not at a good ratio.

Answer 8

Well it seems your baseline information in heading in the right direction. the F18 is the closest match in size and capabilities to the F100.

While the Sabre has a longer range and could stay engaged in a "dog fight" longer. The modern aircraft would simply dispatch the less technically capable aircraft before said situation would become a reality.

Checkout Davis Mothan AFB and see what our government still has in WRR, War Ready Reserve, They might be sealed and stored, but still there if needed, hopefully never.

Hope this helped

Answer 9

It was phased out in the early 70's for a reason!

I've read that the only one of the Century Series fighters that would have a chance today is the late model F-104.

Answer 10

No- even if you had a F-100 with modern avionics and engines it would be at a disadvantage due to maneuverability. Modern aircraft use fly by wires where the controls are hooked to a computer that flies the jet. As a result they are unstable and can pull more g's than the pilot can. The F-100 was designed for hydrolic and mechanical controls and can not preform as well.