North American F-86 Sabre
F-86 Sabre | |
---|---|
An F-86 Sabre during a Davis-Monthan AFB
| |
Role | Fighter aircraft |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | North American Aviation |
First flight | 1 October 1947 |
Introduction | 1949, with USAF |
Retired | 1994 (Bolivian Air Force)[1][2][3][4] |
Primary users | Spanish Air Force
Republic of Korea Air Force |
Number built | 9,860[5] |
Developed from | North American FJ-1 Fury |
Variants | Canadair Sabre North American FJ-2/-3 Fury |
Developed into | CAC Sabre North American F-86D Sabre North American FJ-4 Fury North American YF-93 North American F-100 Super Sabre |
The North American F-86 Sabre, sometimes called the Sabrejet, is a
Its success led to an extended production run of more than 7,800 aircraft between 1949 and 1956, in the United States, Japan, and Italy. In addition, 738 carrier-modified versions were purchased by the US Navy as
Development
North American Aviation had produced the propeller-powered
Crucially, the XP-86 was not able to meet the required top speed of 600 mph (970 km/h);[9] North American had to quickly devise a radical change that could leapfrog its rivals. The F-86 was the first American aircraft to take advantage of flight research data seized from the German aerodynamicists at the end of World War II.[10] These data showed that a thin, swept wing could greatly reduce drag and delay compressibility problems that had bedeviled fighters such as the Lockheed P-38 Lightning when approaching the speed of sound. By 1944, German engineers and designers had established the benefits of swept wings based on experimental designs dating back to 1940. A study of the data showed that a swept wing would solve their speed problem, while a slat on the wing's leading edge that extended at low speeds would enhance low-speed stability.
Because development of the XP-86 had reached an advanced stage, the idea of changing the sweep of the wing was met with resistance from some senior North American staff. Despite stiff opposition, after good results were obtained in wind tunnel tests, the swept-wing concept was eventually adopted. Performance requirements were met by incorporating a 35° swept-back wing, using modified NACA four-digit airfoils, NACA 0009.5–64 at the root and NACA 0008.5–64 at the tip,[11] with an automatic slat design based on that of the Messerschmitt Me 262 and an electrically adjustable stabilizer, another feature of the Me 262A.[12][13][14] Many Sabres had the "6–3 wing" (a fixed leading edge with a 6-inch extended chord at the root and a 3-inch extended chord at the tip) retrofitted after combat experience was gained in Korea.[12][15] This modification changed the wing airfoils to the NACA 0009-64 modified configuration at the root and the NACA 0008.1–64 mod at the tip.[11][dead link]
The XP-86 prototype, which led to the F-86 Sabre, was rolled out on 8 August 1947.
The United States Air Force's Strategic Air Command had F-86 Sabres in service from 1949 through 1950. The F-86s were assigned to the 22nd Bomb Wing, the 1st Fighter Wing, and the 1st Fighter Interceptor Wing.[18] The F-86 was the primary U.S. air combat fighter during the Korean War, with significant numbers of the first three production models seeing combat.
The F-86 Sabre was also produced under license by Canadair, Ltd, as the Canadair Sabre. The final variant of the Canadian Sabre, the Mark 6, is generally rated as having the highest capabilities of any Sabre version.[19][Note 1]
Breaking sound barrier and other records
The F-86A set its first official world speed record of 671 miles per hour (1,080 km/h) on September 15, 1948, at Muroc Dry Lake, flown by Major Richard L. Johnson, USAF.[20] Five years later, on 18 May 1953, Jacqueline Cochran became the first woman to break the sound barrier, flying a "one-off" Canadian-built F-86 Sabre Mk 3, alongside Chuck Yeager.[21] Col. K. K. Compton won the 1951 Bendix air race in an F-86A with an average speed of 553.76 mph (891.19 km/h).
On 2 February 1958, a team of Pakistan Air Force F-86 Sabres called "Falcons" set a world record at PAF Base Masroor by performing a loop while in a 16 aircraft diamond formation. The team was led by then Wing Commander Zafar Masud.[citation needed]
Design
Overview
The F-86 was produced as both a
The fighter-bomber version (F-86H) could carry up to 2,000 lb (910 kg) of bombs, including an external fuel-type tank that could carry
Flying characteristics
The Sabre's swept wings and jet engine produced a flying experience that was very different from the propeller-driven fighters of the time. The transition from props to jets was not without accidents and incidents even for experienced fighter pilots. Early on in the jet age, some US manufacturers instituted safety and transition programs where experienced test and production pilots toured operational fighter squadrons to provide instruction and demonstrations designed to lower the accident rate.[27]
Additionally, the ongoing technical development and long production history of the F-86 resulted in some significant differences in the handling and flying characteristics between the various F-86 models. Some of the important changes to the design included the switch from an elevator/stabilizer to an
Operational history
Korean War
The F-86 entered service with the USAF in 1949, joining the
Many of the American pilots were experienced World War II veterans, while the North Koreans and the Chinese lacked combat experience, thus accounting for much of the F-86's success.
The needs of combat operations balanced against the need to maintain an adequate force structure in Western Europe led to the conversion of the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing from the F-80 to the F-86 in December 1951. Two fighter-bomber wings, the 8th and 18th, converted to the F-86F in the spring of 1953.[35] No. 2 Squadron, South African Air Force (SAAF) also distinguished itself flying F-86s in Korea as part of the 18 FBW.[36]
On 17 June 1951, at 01:30 hours, Suwon Air Base was bombed by two Polikarpov Po-2 biplanes. Each Po-2 dropped a pair of fragmentation bombs: one scored a hit on the 802nd Engineer Aviation Battalion's motor pool, damaging some equipment. Two bombs burst on the flightline of the 335th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. One F-86A Sabre (FU-334 / 49-1334) was struck on the wing and began burning. The fire took hold, gutting the aircraft. Prompt action by personnel who moved aircraft away from the burning Sabre prevented further loss. Eight other Sabres were damaged in the brief attack, four seriously. One F-86 pilot was among the wounded. The North Koreans subsequently credited Lt. La Woon Yung with this damaging attack.[37]
By the end of hostilities, F-86 pilots were credited with shooting down 792 MiGs for a loss of only 78 Sabres in air-to-air combat, a victory ratio of 10:1.[38] Of the 41 American pilots who earned the designation of ace during the Korean War, all but one flew the F-86 Sabre, the exception being a Navy Vought F4U Corsair night fighter pilot. However, after the war, the USAF reviewed its figures in an investigation code-named Sabre Measure Charlie and downgraded the kill ratio of the North American F-86 Sabre against the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 by half.[39] Internally, the USAF accepted that its pilots in fact downed about 200 MiGs[40]
According to Soviet data, the Soviets lost 335 MiG-15s in Korea to all causes, including accidents, antiaircraft fire, and ground attacks.[41] Chinese claims of their losses amount to 224 MiG-15s in Korea.[42] North Korean losses are not known, but according to North Korean defectors, their air force lost around 100 MiG-15s during the war.[43] Thus, 659 MiG-15s are admitted as being lost, many of these to F-86 Sabres[44] The Soviets claimed to have downed over 600 Sabres,[45] together with the Chinese claims (211 F-86s shot-down), although these cannot be reconciled with the number of Sabres recorded as lost by the US.[46]
The status of many claimed air-to-air victories in the Korean War has been increasingly debated as more data becomes available, showing that instances of over-claiming abounded on both sides. The research by Dorr, Lake and Thompson claimed an F-86 kill ratio closer to 2:1.
Data-matching with Soviet records suggests that US pilots routinely attributed their own combat losses to "landing accidents" and "other causes".[48] According to official US data ("USAF Statistical Digest FY1953"), the USAF lost 250 F-86 fighters in Korea. Of these, 184 were lost in combat (78 in air-to-air combat, 19 by anti-aircraft guns, 26 were "unknown causes" and 61 were "other losses") and 66 in incidents.[49] South African Air Force lost 6 F-86s in the war.[50] This gives 256 confirmed F-86 losses during the Korean War.
1958 Taiwan Strait crisis
The Republic of China Air Force was an early recipient of surplus USAF Sabres. From December 1954 to June 1956, the ROC Air Force received 160 ex-USAF F-86F-1-NA through F-86F-30-NA fighters. By June 1958, the Republic of China on Taiwan had built up an impressive fighter force, with 320 F-86Fs and seven RF-86Fs having been delivered.[51]
Sabres and MiGs were shortly to battle each other in the skies of Asia once again in the
During these battles, the ROCAF Sabres introduced a new element into aerial warfare. Under a secret effort designated
Pakistan Air Force
In 1954,
Moreover, in April 1959, a PAF F-86F flown by Flight Lieutenant Yunis of the No. 15 Squadron "Cobras" shot down an Indian Canberra Spy Plane over Rawalpindi marking the first aerial victory for the Pakistan Air Force.[54][55][56]
In 1966, Pakistan acquired 90
The last of the Sabres were withdrawn from PAF service in 1980 and were replaced with the
1960–1961 Bajaur Campaign
In late 1960, regular and irregular Afghan forces invaded the
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
The Sabre was no longer a world-class fighter (due to availability of supersonic jets). However, various sources state the F-86 gave the PAF a technological advantage in 1965.[62][63][64]
- Air to air combat
In the air-to-air combat of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, the PAF Sabres claimed to have shot down 15 Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft, comprising nine Hunters, four Vampires, and two Gnats.[citation needed] India, however, admitted a loss of 14 combat aircraft to the PAF's F-86s.[65] The F-86s of the PAF had the advantage of being armed with AIM-9B/GAR-8 Sidewinder missiles, whereas none of its Indian adversaries had this capability. Despite this, the Indian Air Force claimed that seven F-86 Sabres were shot down by Folland Gnats and six F-86 Sabres were shot down by Hawker Hunters.[66]
- Ground attack
The F-86F remained a potent aircraft for use against ground targets. On the morning of 6 September 1965, six F-86s of No. 19 Squadron struck advancing columns of the Indian army using 5-in (127-mm) rockets along with their six .50-in (12.7-mm)
InIn total, Pakistani
1971 Civil conflict and subsequent Indo-Pakistani war
- Air to Air combat
The
At the beginning of the war, PAF had eight squadrons of F-86 Sabres.
In the Battle of Boyra Indian Folland Gnats of 22 Squadron IAF shot down two F-86Es and severely damaged one F-86E.[75][76]
PAF F-86s performed well, with Pakistani claims of downing 31 Indian aircraft in air-to-air combat. These included 17 Hawker Hunters, eight Sukhoi Su-7 "Fitters", one MiG 21, and three Gnats[citation needed] while losing seven F-86s. The most interesting of these was a battle between two Sabres and four MiG-21s. One MiG was shot down, without any Sabres lost. This was achieved due to the greater low-speed performance of the Sabre in comparison to the delta-winged MiG-21.[77]
India, however, claims to have shot down 11 PAF Sabres for the loss of 11 combat aircraft to the PAF F-86s.
- Ground Attack
In
On 15 April 1971, a formation of 4 Sabres led by
On 26 April 1971, Flight Lt. Abbass led another Sabre formation at
On the Western Front, F-86Es and F-86Fs from various PAF squadrons played a vital role in backing the Pakistan Army's counter attacks at several sectors with Air support.
At
In the
At
At
Guinea-Bissau War of Independence
In 1958, the Forca Aerea Portuguesa (FAP) received 50 F-86Fs from ex-USAF stocks. A few former Norwegian Air Force F-86Fs were also purchased as spares in 1968–69.
The FAP deployed some of its F-86F Sabres to Portuguese Guinea in 1961, being based at AB2 – Bissalanca Air Base, Bissau. These aircraft formed "Detachment 52", initially equipped with eight F-86Fs (serials: 5307, 5314, 5322, 5326, 5354, 5356, 5361, and 5362) from the Esquadra 51, based at the BA5 – Monte Real Air Base. These aircraft were used in the Guinea-Bissau War of Independence, in ground-attack and close-support operations against the insurgent forces. In August 1962, 5314 overshot the runway during an emergency landing with bombs still attached on underwing hardpoints and burned out. F-86F 5322 was shot down by enemy ground fire on 31 May 1963; the pilot ejected safely and was recovered. Several other aircraft suffered combat damage but were repaired.
In 1964, 16 F-86Fs based at Bissalanca returned to mainland Portugal due to U.S. pressure. They had flown 577 combat sorties, of which 430 were ground-attack and close-air-support missions.
Philippine Air Force
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) first received the Sabres in the form of F-86Fs in 1957, replacing the North American P-51 Mustang as their primary interceptor. F-86s first operated from
Soviet Sabre
During the Korean War, the Soviets were searching for an intact U.S. F-86 Sabre for evaluation and study purposes. Their search was frustrated, largely due to the U.S. military's policy of destroying their weapons and equipment once they had been disabled or abandoned; in the case of U.S. aircraft, USAF pilots destroyed most of their downed Sabres by strafing or bombing them. However, on one occasion, an F-86 was downed in the tidal area of a beach and subsequently was submerged, preventing its destruction. The aircraft was ferried to Moscow and a new OKB (Soviet Experimental Design Bureau) was established to study the F-86, which later became part of the Sukhoi OKB. "At least one F-86… was sent to the Soviet Union, the Russians [sic] admitted, and other planes and prizes such as U.S. G-suits and radar gun sights also went."[87] The Soviets studied and copied the optical gunsight and radar from the captured aircraft to produce the ASP-4N gunsight and SRC-3 radar. Installed in the MiG-17, the gunsight system was later used against American fighters in the Vietnam War.[Note 2] The F-86 studies also contributed to the development of aircraft aluminum alloys such as V-95.[89][failed verification]
Feather Duster
The old but nimble MiG-17 had become such a serious threat against the Republic F-105 Thunderchief over North Vietnam that the USAF created project "Feather Duster" to test which tactics supersonic American fighters could use against fighters such as the MiG-17. ANG F-86H units proved to be an ideal stand-in for the Soviet jets. One pilot remarked, "In any envelope except nose down and full throttle", either the F-100 or F-105 was inferior to the F-86H in a dogfight.[90][91]
Variants
North American F-86
- XF-86
- three prototypes, originally designated XP-86, North American model NA-140
- YF-86A
- this was the first prototype fitted with a General Electric J47 turbojet engine.
- F-86A
- 554 built, North American model NA-151 (F-86A-1 block and first order of A-5 block) and NA-161 (second F-86A-5 block)
- DF-86A
- A few F-86A conversions as drone directors
- RF-86A
- 11 F-86A conversions with three cameras for reconnaissance
- F-86B
- 188 ordered as upgraded A-model with wider fuselage and larger tires but delivered as F-86A-5, North American model NA-152
- F-86C
- Original designation for the YF-93A, two built, 48–317 & 48–318,[92] order for 118 cancelled, North American model NA-157
- YF-95A
- Prototype all-weather interceptor, two built, designation changed to YF-86D, North American model NA-164
- F-86D/L
- Production transonic all-weather search-radar equipped interceptor originally designated F-95A, 2,506 built. The F-86D had only 25 percent commonality with other Sabre variants, with a larger fuselage, larger afterburning engine, and a distinctive nose radome. Sole armament was Mk. 4 unguided rockets instead of machine guns. F-86Ls were upgraded F-86Ds.
- F-86E
- Improved flight control system and an "all-flying tail" (This system changed to a full power-operated control with an "artificial feel" built into the aircraft's controls to give the pilot forces on the stick that were still conventional, but light enough for superior combat control. It improved high-speed maneuverability); 456 built, North American model NA-170 (F-86E-1 and E-5 blocks), NA-172, essentially the F-86F airframe with the F-86E engine (F-86E-10 and E-15 blocks); 60 of these built by Canadair for USAF (F-86E-6)
- F-86E(M)
- Designation for ex-RAF Sabres diverted to other NATO air forces
- QF-86E
- Designation for surplus RCAF Sabre Mk. Vs modified to target drones
- F-86F
- Uprated engine and larger "6–3" wing without leading-edge slats, 2,239 built; North American model NA-172 (F-86F-1 through F-15 blocks), NA-176 (F-86F-20 and −25 blocks), NA-191 (F-86F-30 and −35 blocks), NA-193 (F-86F-26 block), NA-202 (F-86F-35 block), NA-227 (first two orders of F-86F-40 blocks comprising 280 aircraft that reverted to leading-edge wing slats of an improved design), NA-231 (70 in third F-40 block order), NA-238 (110 in fourth F-40 block order), and NA-256 (120 in final F-40 block order); 300 additional aircraft in this series assembled by Mitsubishi in Japan for Japanese Air Self-Defense Force. Sabre Fs had much improved high-speed agility, coupled with a higher landing speed of over 145 mph (233 km/h). The F-35 block had provisions for a new operational role: the tactical nuclear attack using newer, smaller, and lighter nuclear weapons ("second generation" nuclear ordnance). The F-40 had a new slatted wing with a slightly higher span, resulting in a slight decrease in speed, but also much better agility at both high and low speeds and a reduced landing speed of 124 mph (200 km/h). The USAF upgraded many previous F versions to the F-40 standard. One E and two Fs were modified for improved performance via rocket boost.
- F-86F(R)
- F-86F-30 (52-4608) had a Rocketdyne AR2-3 with 3,000–6,000 lbf (13,000–27,000 N) thrust at 35,000 ft (11,000 m), giving a top speed of mach 1.22 at 60,000 ft (18,000 m).[31]
- F-86F-2
- Designation for 10 aircraft modified to carry the M39 cannon in place of the M3 .50 caliber machine gun "six-pack". Four F-86E-10s (serial numbers 51-2803, 2819, 2826 and 2836) and six F-86F-1s (serial numbers 51-2855, 2861, 2867, 2868, 2884 and 2900) were production-line aircraft modified in October 1952 with enlarged and strengthened gun bays, then flight tested at Edwards Air Force Base and the Air Proving Ground at Eglin Air Force Base in November. Eight were shipped to Japan in December and seven forward-deployed to Kimpo Airfield as "Project GunVal" for a 16-week combat field trial in early 1953. Two were lost to engine compressor stalls after ingesting excessive propellant gases from the cannons.[93][Note 3][94]
- QF-86F
- About 50 former Japan Self-Defense Forces (JASDF) F-86F aircraft converted to drones for use as targets by the U.S. Navy
- RF-86F
- Some F-86F-30s converted with three cameras for reconnaissance; also 18 Japan Self-Defense Forces (JASDF) aircraft similarly converted
- TF-86F
- Two F-86F converted to two-seat training configuration with lengthened fuselage and slatted wings under North American model NA-204
- YF-86H
- Extensively redesigned fighter-bomber model with deeper fuselage, uprated engine, longer wings and power-boosted tailplane, two built as North American model NA-187
- F-86H
- Production model, 473 built, with Low Altitude Bombing System (LABS) and provision for nuclear weapon, North American model NA-187 (F-86H-1 and H-5 blocks) and NA-203 (F-86H-10 block)
- QF-86H
- Target conversion of 29 aircraft for use at United States Naval Weapons Center
- F-86J
- Single F-86A-5-NA, 49-1069, flown with Orenda turbojet under North American model NA-167 – same designation reserved for A-models flown with the Canadian engines but project not proceeded with
- F-86K
- F-86L
North American FJ Fury
- See: U.S. Navyversions.
CAC Sabre (Australia)
Two types based on the U.S. F-86F were built under licence by the
CA-27 marques:
- Mk 30: 21 built, wing slats, Avon 20 engine.
- Mk 31: 21 built, 6–3 wing, Avon 20 engine.
- Mk 32: 69 built, four wing pylons, F-86F fuel capacity, Avon 26 engine.[98]
Canadair Sabre
The F-86 was also manufactured by Canadair in Canada as the CL-13 Sabre to replace its de Havilland Vampires, with the following production models:
- Sabre Mk 1
- one built, prototype F-86A
- Sabre Mk 2
- 350 built, F-86E-type, 60 to USAF, three to RAF, 287 to RCAF
- Sabre Mk 3
- one built in Canada, test-bed for the Orenda jet engine
- Sabre Mk 4
- 438 built, production Mk 3, 10 to RCAF, 428 to RAF as Sabre F-4
- Sabre Mk 5
- 370 built, F-86F-type with Orenda engine, 295 to RCAF, 75 to Luftwaffe
- Sabre Mk 6
- 655 built, 390 to RCAF, 225 to Luftwaffe, six to Colombiaand 34 to South Africa
Production summary
- NAA built a total of 6,297 F-86s and 1,115 FJs,
- Canadair built 1,815,
- Australian CAC built 112,
- Fiat built 221, and
- Mitsubishi built 300;
- for a total Sabre/Fury production of 9,860.
Production costs
F-86A | F-86D | F-86E | F-86F | F-86H | F-86K | F-86L | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Program R&D cost | 4,707,802 | ||||||
Airframe | 101,528 | 191,313 | 145,326 | 140,082 | 316,360 | 334,633 | |
Engine | 52,971 | 75,036 | 39,990 | 44,664 | 214,612 | 71,474 | |
Electronics | 7,576 | 7,058 | 6,358 | 5,649 | 6,831 | 10,354 | |
Armament | 16,333 | 69,986 | 23,645 | 17,669 | 27,573 | 20,135 | |
Ordnance | 419 | 4,138 | 3,047 | 17,117 | 4,761 | ||
Flyaway cost | 178,408 | 343,839 | 219,457 | 211,111 | 582,493 | 441,357 | 343,839 |
Maintenance cost per flying hour | 135 | 451 | 187 |
Note: The costs are in approximately 1950 United States dollars and have not been adjusted for inflation.[21]
Operators
- Source: F-86 Sabre Jet: History of the Sabre and FJ Fury[99]
- Acquired 28 F-86Fs, 26 September 1960, FAA s/n CA-101 through CA-128. The Sabres were already on reserve status at the time of the Falklands War but were reinstated to active service to bolster air defences against possible Chilean involvement. Finally retired in 1986.
- Australia
- Belgian Air Force
- 5 F-86F Sabres delivered, no operational unit.
- Bolivia
- Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)
- Colombian Air Force
- Acquired four F-86Fs from Spanish Air Force (s/n 2027/2028), five USAF F-86F (s/n 51-13226) and other nine Canadair Mk.6; assigned to Escuadron de Caza-Bombardero.
- Denmark
- 59 F-86D-31NA(38) F-86D-36NA(21)s in service from 1958 – 1966 ESK 723, ESK 726, ESK 728[103]
- Ethiopia
- German Air Force (Luftwaffe) – see North American F-86D Sabre and Canadair Sabre
- Acquired and 10 CL.13 Mk2 (F-86E) from Yugoslavia.
- Iran
- Imperial Iranian Air Force
- Acquired an unknown number of F-86Fs.[104]
- Iraq
- Bought some units of the type but they were never operated and were returned.
- Japan
- Japanese Air Self-Defense Force(JASDF)
- Acquired 180 U.S. F-86Fs, 1955–1957. Mitsubishi built 300 F-86Fs under license 1956–1961, and were assigned to 10 fighter hikōtai or squadrons. JASDF called F-86F the "Kyokukō" (旭光, Rising Sunbeam) and F-86D the "Gekkō" (月光, Moon Light). Their Blue Impulse Aerobatic Team, a total of 18 F-models were converted to reconnaissance version in 1962. Some aircraft were returned to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, as drones.
- Norway
- Acquired 115 F-86Fs, 1957–1958; and assigned to seven squadrons, Nos. 331, 332, 334, 336, 337, 338 and 339.
- Pakistan
- Pakistani Air Force
- Acquired 102 U.S.-built F-86F-35-NA and F-86F-40-NAs, last of North American Aviation's production line, 1954–1960s.
- Peru
- Acquired 26 U.S.-built F-86Fs in 1955, assigned to Escuadrón Aéreo 111, Grupo Aéreo No.11 at Talara air force base. Finally retired in 1979.
- Philippines
- Acquired 50 F-86Fs in 1957. Retired in the late 1970s.
- Portugal
- A total of 65 acquired: 50 U.S.-built F-86Fs, 1958, including some from USAF's 531st Fighter Bomber Squadron, Chambley and 15 ex-Royal Norwegian Air Force. In Portugal, they served in Squadron 201 (formerly designated as Sqn. 50 and later Sqn. 51, before being renamed in 1978) and Squadron 52, both based at Air Base No. 5, Monte Real. In 1961, the Portuguese Air Force deployed some of its F-86Fs to Portuguese Guinea, where they formed Detachment 52, based at Base-Aerodrome No. 2, Bissalanca/Bissau.
- Taiwan (Republic of China)
- Acquired 320 U.S.-built F-86Fs,7 RF-86Fs,18 F-86Ds, The 18 F-86Ds back to U.S. military and US send 6 to Republic of Korea Air Force,8 to Philippine Air Force in 1966.
- Saudi Arabia
- Acquired 16 U.S.-built F-86Fs in 1958, and three Fs from Norway in 1966; and assigned to No. 7 Squadron RSAF at Dhahran.
- South Africa
- Acquired on loan 22 U.S.-built F-86F-30s during the Korean War and saw action with 2 Squadron SAAF.
- South Korea
- Acquired U.S.-built 112 F-86Fs and 10 RF-86Fs, beginning 20 June 1955; and assigned to ROKAF 10th Wing. It also served with the ROKAF Black Eagles aerobatic team for annual event from 1959 to 1966. The last F-86s retired in 1990.
- Spain
- Spanish Air Force
- Acquired 270 U.S.-built F-86Fs, 1955–1958; designated C.5s and assigned to 5 wings: Ala de Caza 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6. Retired 1972.
- Thailand
- Acquired 40 U.S.-built F-86Fs, 1962; assigned to RTAF Squadrons, Nos. 12 (Ls), 13, and 43.
- Tunisia
- Acquired 15 used U.S.-built F-86F in 1969.
- Turkey
- Acquired ex-RCAF 107 Canadair CL-13 Sabre Mk.2 “F-86E(M)„ in 1954, retired 1968.[105][106]
- United Nations
- Received 5 F-86E(M)s from Italy as MAP redeployment 1963, manned by Philippine pilots; F-86F units from Ethiopia and Iran also used in ONUC.
- United States
- Venezuela
- Acquired 30 U.S.-built F-86Fs, October 1955 – December 1960; and assigned to one group, Grupo Aéreo De Caza No. 12, three other squadrons.
- Yugoslavia
- Yugoslav Air Force
- Acquired 121 Canadair CL-13s and F-86Es, operating them in several fighter aviation regiments between 1956 and 1971.
Civil aviation
According to the
Notable pilots
- Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. He was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat ("The star of courage") and bar.[108][109]
- Colonel NASA astronaut of Apollo 11fame. Credited with shooting down two MiGs over Korea.
- Major Rudolf Anderson, Jr. USAF (4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron). Shot down and killed in 1962 while flying a U-2 spy plane over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
- Colonel Royal N. Baker (13 victories), commander USAF 4 FIW.
- Wing Commander John Robert Baldwin DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, AFC was a Royal Air Force fighter pilot and the top scoring fighter ace flying the Hawker Typhoon exclusively during the Second World War. He was posted missing, presumed killed, during service with the United States Air Force in the Korean War flying a Sabre.
- Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Bautista of the Philippine Air Force received the Distinguished Conduct Star for his valor and bravery in providing close air support to ground forces.
- Major General Frederick C. Blesse (10 victories)
- Major (later Lt Col) John F. Bolt, US Marine Corps, 6 victories while on exchange duty with the 39th FS, 51st FG, previously 6 victories in World War II and the only Marine to become an ace in two wars.
- 1st Lieutenant [Later Colonel] John Boyd, USAF, flying 22 missions in the F-86E and F models, with the 25th FIS (51st FIW) June–July 1953.
- 1st Lieutenant John M. Conroy, completed "Operation Boomerang" on 21 May 1955, a record-setting coast-to-coast and back in one day during daylight hours of 5058 miles in 11 hours, 26 mins, 33 secs.
- Major George Davis (14 victories), USAF 4 FIW, awarded the Medal of Honorposthumously
- Lieutenant Commander Theodore H Faller, 13 August 1979 – U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Theodore "Ted" Faller was killed when his QF-86 Sabre suffered an engine failure moments after takeoff.[110] Faller managed to bring the stricken aircraft down in a vacant lot 600 yards south of the Ridgecrest Heights Elementary School, later renamed Theodore Faller Elementary School.[111]
- Captain Manuel "Pete" Fernandez, (14.5 victories), USAF 4 FIW
- Colonel Francis S. "Gabby" Gabreski (six and one-half victories), USAF 51 FIW commander, top European U.S. ace in World War II
- Colonel Vermont Garrison (five victories), USAF 4 FIW, ace in World War II and combat veteran of three wars
- Colonel Ralph "Hoot" Gibson (five victories), USAF 4 FIW
- Major U.S. Marine Corps exchange pilot with the USAF 51 FIW (3 victories). First American astronaut to orbit the Earth, later a U.S. Senatorfrom Ohio.
- Lieutenant Colonel Virgil "Gus" Grissom, astronaut in the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs, died in a fire during testing for the Apollo 1 mission.
- Major (later Colonel) James P. Hagerstrom, (8 1/2 victories) World War II ace.
- 1st Lieutenant Robert A. "Bob" Hoover, USAF 52 FIW, North American Aviation experimental engineering test pilot.[112]
- Captain James Horowitz (1 victory), USAF 4 FIW, novelist and author of The Hunters under the pen name James Salter
- Colonel James Jabara (15 victories), USAF 4 FIW
- Colonel James H. Kasler (six victories), USAF 4 FIW and only three-time recipient of the Air Force Cross
- Captain Iven Kincheloe (five victories) USAF 51 FIW, test pilot selected to fly the North American X-15
- Second Lieutenant Gene Kranz, NASA flight director for Gemini and Apollo and assistant flight director on Project Mercury- flew with 69th FBS in South Korea
- 1st Lt (later Major) James F. Low, only Korean War USAF pilot to reach ace status while still a 2nd Lt; inspiration for the character of 2nd Lt Ed Pell in the novel and movie The Hunters by James Horowitz (a.k.a. James Salter); later a Vietnam War POW
- Squadron Leader RCAF Second World War fighter ace (8.5 victories); taken POW when his F-86 was shot down while flying with the USAF 51 FIW in Korea in 1952.[113]
- Colonel Walker "Bud" Mahurin, USAF 4 FIG commander and World War II ace
- Major General Howard Thomas Markey, first chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- Captain Joseph C. McConnell (16 victories), USAF 51 FIW, who later died in a crash at Edwards Air Force Base testing the F-86H
- Colonel (later General) John C. Meyer (two victories), USAF 4 FIW commander, World War II ace, and later Vice Chief of Staff of the USAF.
- Squadron Leader Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.
- Brigadier General James Robinson Risner (eight victories), USAF awarded the Air Force Cross, later Vietnam War POW
- Colonel Harrison R. Thyng (five victories), USAF 4 FIW commander
- Major (later Colonel) William T. Whisner Jr. (5 1/2 victories), World War II ace
Surviving aircraft
Specifications (F-86F-40-NA)
Data from The North American Sabre[114] and North American F-86F-40-NA[115]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 37 ft 1 in (11.30 m)
- Wingspan: 39 ft 1 in (11.91 m)
- Height: 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m)
- Wing area: 313.4 sq ft (29.12 m2)
- Airfoil: root: NACA 0009-64 mod.; tip: NACA 0008.1-64 mod.[116]
- Empty weight: 11,125 lb (5,046 kg)
- Gross weight: 15,198 lb (6,894 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 18,152 lb (8,234 kg)
- Fuel capacity: JP-4 fuel: 437 US gallons (364 imp gal; 1,650 L) internals + 2 x 200 US gallons (170 imp gal; 760 L) drop tanks
- Powerplant: 1 × General Electric J47-GE-27 turbojetengine, 5,910 lbf (26.3 kN) thrust
Performance
- Maximum speed: 687 mph (1,106 km/h, 597 kn) at sea level at 14,212 lb (6,446 kg) combat weight
- 678 mph (589 kn; 1,091 km/h)
- 599 mph (521 kn; 964 km/h) at 35,000 ft (10,668 m) at 15,352 lb (6,964 kg)
- 597 mph (519 kn; 961 km/h) at 21,148 ft (6,446 m)
- 599 mph (521 kn; 964 km/h) at 22,835 ft (6,960 m)
- Stall speed: 124 mph (200 km/h, 108 kn)
- Range: 1,525 mi (2,454 km, 1,325 nmi)
- Combat range: 414 mi (666 km, 360 nmi) with two 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs and 2x 200 US gallons (170 imp gal; 760 L) drop tanks[117]
- Service ceiling: 49,600 ft (15,100 m) at combat weight
- Rate of climb: 9,000 ft/min (46 m/s) at sea level
- Time to altitude: 30,000 ft (9,144 m) in 5 minutes 12 seconds
- Lift-to-drag: 15
- Thrust/weight: 0.42
Armament
- Guns: 6 k M3 Browning machine guns(1,800 rounds in total)
- Rockets: variety of rocket launchers; e.g.: 2 Matra rocket pods with 18 SNEB 68 mm rockets per pod
- Bombs: 5,300 lb (2,400 kg) of payload on four external hardpoints, bombs were usually mounted on outer two pylons as the inner pairs were plumbed for two 200 US gallons (760 L) drop tanks which gave the Sabre a more useful range. A wide variety of bombs could be carried (max standard loadout being two 1,000 pounds (450 kg) bombs plus two drop tanks), napalm canisters and could have included a tactical nuclear weapon.
See also
- Aircraft in fiction#F-86 Sabre for notable appearances in the media.
- Semi-Automatic Ground Environment
- Tactical Air Command
Related development
- CAC Sabre
- Canadair Sabre
- North American F-86D Sabre
- North American F-100 Super Sabre
- North American FJ-1 Fury
- North American FJ-2/-3 Fury
- North American FJ-4 Fury
- North American YF-93
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Dassault Mystère
- FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II
- Grumman F-9 Cougar
- Hawker Hunter
- Lavochkin La-15
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17
- Republic F-84F Thunderstreak
- Saab 29 Tunnan
Related lists
- List of fighter aircraft
- List of military aircraft of the United States
- Lists of air show accidents and incidents
References
Notes
- ^ Quote: "The Canadair Sabre Mk 6 was the last variant and considered to be the 'best' production Sabre ever built."
- ^ The MiG-17 was a development of the MiG-15 upgraded with a more advanced wing and afterburner (the Sabre's all-flying tail would not be employed until the supersonic MiG-19). The MiG-17 proved to be a deadly foe in Vietnam in the 1960s against more advanced U.S. supersonic opponents; some, such as the F-4 Phantom, actually lacked the guns and radar gunsight introduced by the F-86.[88]
- ^ MiG Alley: Sabres Vs. MiGs Over Korea. was researched by North American tech rep John L. Henderson. The aircraft were F-86E-10s: 51-2303, -2819, -2826 and -2836; and F-86F-1's 51-2855, −2862, −2867, −2868, −2884 and −2900.
- ^ Although privately registered in the US, two F-86s are actually owned by an individual for display purposes only in a private museum collection.[107]
Citations
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- ^ "MiG-15 'Fagot'." Archived 27 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine mnangmuseum.org. Retrieved: 19 July 2011.
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- ISBN 978-1909384415. Page: 554.
- ISBN 978-1-58544-201-0.
- ISBN 978-0786431069. Page 142.
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- ^ Azmat Ansari (4 March 2020). "Forgotten PAF heroes". Dawn.
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- Flight Magazine1990 or The Encyclopaedia of World Air Forces
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- ^ Rakshak, Bharat. "IAF Kills in 1965." Archived 5 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved: 20 August 2010.
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India lost minimum of 66 aircraft, in which 39 were destroyed by the PAF in its air to ground strikes.
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The US F-86 fighter has long been the mainstay of the Pakistan Air Force, and in spite of its subsonic performance, Islamabad is still seeking more. They were heavily committed during the 1971 war. Bangladesh captured about eight F-86s at the end of the war, but needs spare parts and technical assistance to keep them operational.
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