By James Church
On a cold, December Saturday, those who had gathered on the wind-swept ramp at the Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA), Indiana, were about to witness a very special, if bittersweet event. After nearly thirty years, Dean Cutshall’s custodianship of the magnificent North American Aviation F-100F Super Sabre N2011V, the only example of the type currently flying, may be nearing its conclusion. Citing issues with obtaining insurance for continued flight operations, as well as the advanced age of himself and the crew that maintains the Cold War-era fighter jet, Dean has rationalized that his tenure of owning and operating it may indeed be nearing its end.
Two flights were conducted on Saturday, December 30th, both to give rides to very appreciative passengers. Before the first of these, Dean addressed those in attendance, appraising them of the circumstances he currently faces to keep the operation going. While it was not a definitive announcement, by any means, one could not help but feel that an era was coming to an end based on this discussion. All is not lost, however, as there is hope they will overcome these obstacles, and if so, at least one more season of flying the Hun would be the result.
However, it is always advisable to have a backup plan. With this in mind, Dean is considering approaching viable museums, preferably one that has the means to continue operating it, to which he could donate the aircraft. For now, no moves in this direction have been taken, in the hopes that it will not be necessary to find it a new home just yet. As the only currently flying example of the type, Dean is determined to see that the Hun remains in the air with whomever the next caretaker is.
Dean first acquired the Super Sabre, USAF Serial No. 56-3948, in 1995, from Sierra Hotel Inc., of Addison, Texas, which in turn had bought it from TRACOR/Flight Systems, Inc., of Mojave, California. TRACOR/Flight Systems had ferried it, along with a C and D model (both of which have since been grounded and are on static display in museums in California) from Turkey in 1989, where they had last served with the Turkish Air Force (where it had served as 3-948) and registered it as N2011V. Flight Systems Inc were using F-86 and F-100 Sabres for target drogue towing contracts, though 3948 was not made airworthy after arrival, but stored. While it looked pretty, polished and in the markings of an aircraft flown by World War Two ace Francis Gabreski (F-100F Serial No. 56-3868) when he commanded the 354 Tactical Fighter Wing, based at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina from 1956 to 1960, a lot underneath the skin needed addressing.
The pretty paint job hid what was in reality, a very tired airframe, in need of much attention. Following an intensive year-and-a-half IRAN (Inspect and Repair As Necessary) and engine change, performed by Fort Wayne Air Service, the aircraft performed, and continues to do so, flawlessly. This has allowed Dean, with the help of his experienced ex-Air National Guard-trained engineers, to attain an enviable record of performance, having never missed a scheduled event or appearance. When one considers the complexities of the F-100 and its systems, that is a truly remarkable accomplishment and one they can all be very proud of.
Dean has been extremely fortunate to have a small cadre of specialist mechanics in the local Fort Wayne area to call on that maintained Super Sabres in the Air National Guard. Their reservist experience meant they brought many combined years of knowledge with them. Without this absolutely exceptional special support, Dean readily admits the endeavor to operate the Hun would not have been possible. The march of time continues unabated, however, and they, like Dean and, the Hun itself, are advancing in age as time marches on. The well-rehearsed ballet of preparing the Hun before each flight, perfected over many, many years of performing it, has become decidedly slower as the guys’ bodies are simply no longer to perform as they once did when they were younger, protecting our nation for Uncle Sam, at a time when the Cold War could have turned hot at any moment.
Nothing lasts forever, as they say, and the days of this magnificent aircraft operating from Fort Wayne, in the country’s heartland, are fleeting. Whether he can continue on for one more year or not, Dean has no illusions about the future. For the aircraft to continue flying in the long term, a new, willing custodian will need to come forward. Failing that, the world may well have witnessed the last-ever flight of a Super Sabre that cold day in December.
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