Prev           AMERICAN AIRCRAFT           Next

F-86 'SABRE'

North American F-86A 'Sabre', Kemble 2009 - pic by Nigel Key
North American F-86A 'Sabre', Kemble 2009 ©Nigel Key

ROLE
Fighter.

FIRST FLIGHT
1 October 1947.

The North American F-86 Sabre was designed with a thin 35 degrees swept wing to achieve a speed greater than 600 mph (970 km/h). The design was based upon data obtained from German aerodynamicists at the end of War II.

To create stability, a slat that extended at low speed was fitted on the wings leading edge which was based upon the Messerschmitt Me 262.

The fuselage was lengthened from the prototype and the cockpit was pressurised.

The flight controls were operated by a hydraulic system making it easy for the pilot to control the aircraft at high speed.

On the 15 September 1948, an F-86A Sabre flew at 670.9 mph which was a new world record.

PRODUCTION
The F-86 Sabre was produced from 1947 to 1956, with over 9,000 built.

ENGINE
General Electric J47-GE-13, producing 5,200 lb st.

Press play to hear the Sabre


ARMAMENT
6 x Browning M-2 0.5” machine guns
2,000 lb (908 kg) Bomb/Rocket load.

The United States Air Force's Strategic Air Command had F-86 Sabres in service from 1949 through 1950.

The F-86 Sabre was sent to Korea and proved itself against the MiG-15 with dog-fights over Northwest Korea, known as “MiG Alley”.

By the end of the Korean War, the F-86 Sabre had shot down 792 MiG’s with a loss of only 76 aircraft.

Crew - 1
Length - 37ft 6.5in (11.44m)
Wingspan - 37ft 1.5in (11.32m)
Height - 14ft 8in (4.47m)
Empty Weight - 10,093lb (4,578kg)
Max. Weight - 16,223lb (7,359kg)
Max. Speed - 679mph (1,093 km/h)
Range - 660 miles (1,060 km)


PHOTOGRAPHS

North American F-86A 'Sabre', Kemble 2009 - pic by Nigel Key North American F-86A 'Sabre', Kemble 2009 - pic by Nigel Key North American F-86A 'Sabre', Kemble 2009 - pic by Nigel Key
Kemble 2009 Kemble 2009 Kemble 2009
North American F-86A 'Sabre', Kemble 2008 - pic by Nigel Key North American F-86A 'Sabre', Kemble 2008 - pic by Nigel Key North American F-86A 'Sabre', Kemble 2008 - pic by Nigel Key
Kemble 2008 Kemble 2008 Kemble 2008
North American F-86A 'Sabre', Kemble 2008 - pic by Nigel Key North American F-86A 'Sabre', Kemble 2008 - pic by Nigel Key North American F-86A 'Sabre', Kemble 2008 - pic by Nigel Key
Old Warden 2008 Kemble 2008 Kemble 2008


Photos copyright of ©Nigel Key




MODEL KITS
















AVIATION TOP 100 - www.avitop.com Avitop.com