North American Aviation's F-100 Super Sabre first flew May 25, 1953, and was the first operational fighter in the world capable of maintaining supersonic speed in level flight. Of the 2,290 Super Sabres, 1,274 F-100Ds included the first autopilot designed for a supersonic jet. The F-100 had a service ceiling above 50,000 feet and a range of more than 1,000 statute miles.To demonstrate the ability of its pilots and aircraft, the Air Force chose F-100 Super Sabres to perform throughout the world in aerial precision demonstration flights. The famed Thunderbirds, a four-man aircraft team, were viewed by over 19 million people as the storied pilots performed intricate precision maneuvers at low altitude. In Europe the Skyblazers flew similar demonstrations.