TheNorth American F-86 Sabre, sometimes called theSabrejet, is atransonic jetfighter aircraft. Produced byNorth American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as the United States' firstswept-wing fighter that could counter the swept-wing SovietMiG-15 in high-speed dogfights in the skies of theKorean War (1950–1953), fighting some of the earliest jet-to-jet battles. Considered one of the best and most important fighter aircraft in that war, the F-86 is also rated highly in comparison with fighters of other eras.[6] Although it was developed in the late 1940s and was outdated by the end of the 1950s, the Sabre proved versatile and adaptable and continued as a front-line fighter in numerous air forces.
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 asFJ-2s and -3s. Variants were built in Canada and Australia. TheCanadair Sabre added another 1,815 aircraft and the significantly redesignedCAC Sabre (sometimes known as theAvon Sabre or CAC CA-27), had a production run of 112. The Sabre is by far themost-produced Western jet fighter, with a total production of all variants at 9,860 units.[1]
North American Aviation had produced the propeller-poweredP-51 Mustang inWorld War II, which saw combat against some of the first operational jet fighters. By late 1944, North American proposed its first jet fighter to the U.S. Navy, which became theFJ-1 Fury. It was an unexceptional transitional jet fighter that had a straight wing derived from the P-51.[7] Initial proposals to meet aUnited States Army Air Forces (USAAF) requirement for a medium-range, single-seat, high-altitude, jet-powered dayescort fighter/fighter bomber were drafted in mid-1944.[8] In early 1945, North American Aviation submitted four designs.[8] The USAAF selected one design over the others and granted North American a contract to build three examples of the XP-86 ("experimental pursuit"). Deleting specific requirements from the FJ-1 Fury, coupled with other modifications, allowed the XP-86 to be lighter and considerably faster than the Fury, with an estimated top speed of 582 mph (937 km/h), versus the Fury's 547 mph (880 km/h).[8] Despite the gain in speed, early studies revealed the XP-86 would have the same performance as its rivals, theXP-80 andXP-84. Because these rival designs were more advanced in their development stages, it was feared that the XP-86 would be cancelled.
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 offlight 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 delaycompressibility problemsthat had bedeviled fighters such as theLockheed P-38 Lightning when approaching the speed of sound.[citation needed] 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 modifiedNACA 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 theMesserschmitt Me 262 and an electrically adjustable stabilizer, another feature of the Me 262A.[12][13] 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][14] 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.[15] The first flight occurred on 1 October 1947 withGeorge Welch at the controls,[16] flying from Muroc Dry Lake (nowEdwards AFB), California.[10][15]
TheUnited States Air Force'sStrategic 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.[17] 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 byCanadair, 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.[18][Note 1]
The F-86A set its first officialworld speed record of 671 miles per hour (1,080 km/h) on September 15, 1948, at Muroc Dry Lake, flown by MajorRichard L. Johnson, USAF.[19] 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, alongsideChuck Yeager.[20] 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).
PAF "Falcons" make a world record in 1958 with 16 F-86s.
The F-86 was produced as both afighter-interceptor andfighter-bomber. Several variants were introduced over its production life, with improvements and different armament implemented (see below). The XP-86 was fitted with aGeneral Electric J35-C-3 jet engine that produced 4,000 lbf (18 kN) of thrust. This engine was built byGM'sChevrolet division until production was turned over toAllison.[21] TheGeneral Electric J47-GE-7 engine was used in the F-86A-1 producing a thrust of 5,200 lbf (23 kN), while theGeneral Electric J73-GE-3 engine of the F-86H produced 9,250 lbf (41 kN) of thrust.[22]
The fighter-bomber version (F-86H) could carry up to 2,000 lb (910 kg) of bombs, including an external fuel-tank type that could carrynapalm.[23] Unguided 2.75-inch (70-millimeter)rockets were used on some fighters on training missions, but 5-inch (127 mm) rockets were later carried on combat operations. The F-86 could also be fitted with a pair of external jettisonable jet fuel tanks (four on the F-86F beginning in 1953) that extended the range of the aircraft. Both the interceptor and fighter-bomber versions carried six 0.50 in (12.7 mm)M3 Browning machine guns with electrically-boosted feed in the nose (later versions of the F-86H carried four 20 mm (0.79 in) cannon instead of machine guns).[citation needed] Firing at a rate of 1,200 rounds per minute,[24] the 0.50 in (12.7 mm) guns wereharmonized to converge at 1,000 ft (300 m) in front of the aircraft, using armor-piercing (AP) and armor-piercing incendiary (API) rounds, with one armor-piercing incendiarytracer (APIT) for every five AP or API rounds.[citation needed] The API rounds used during the Korean War containedmagnesium, which were designed to ignite upon impact, but burned poorly above 35,000 ft (11,000 m) as oxygen levels were insufficient to sustain combustion at that height.[citation needed] Initial planes were fitted with theMark 18 manual-ranging computing gun sight. The last 24 F-86A-5-Nas and F-86Es were equipped with the A-1CM gunsight-AN/APG-30 radar, which usedradar to automatically compute a target's range, which later proved to be advantageous against MiG opponents over Korea.[25]
The transition to the Sabre's swept wings and jet engine saw many accidents and incidents, since even experienced pilots had to learn new handling techniques and flying characteristics. 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.[26]
As F-86 models continued to be upgraded, the learning process continued. Important design changes included switching from an elevator/stabilizer to anall-flying tail, discontinuation ofleading edge slats for a solid wing with a small forward-mountedwing fence, increased internal fuel capacity, increased engine power, and an internal missile bay (F-86D). While the solid leading edge and increased internal fuel capacity increased combat performance, they exacerbated a dangerous and often fatal handling characteristic: the nose was raised prematurely from the runway during take-off.[27] The danger of over-rotation is now a major area of instruction and concern for current F-86 pilots. The1972 Sacramento Canadair Sabre accident resulting in 22 fatalities and 28 other casualties was a result of over-rotation on take-off.
USAF North American F-86 Sabre fighters from the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing Checkertails are readied for combat during the Korean War atSuwon Air Base.
The F-86 entered service with the USAF in 1949, joining the1st Fighter Wing's94th Fighter Squadron and became the primary air-to-air jet fighter used by the Americans in theKorean War. While earlier straight-winged jets such as theP-80 andF-84 initially achieved air victories, when the swept-wingMiG-15 was introduced in November 1950, it outperformed all UN-based aircraft.
In response, three squadrons of F-86s were rushed to the Far East in December.[28] The MiG-15 was superior to early F-86 models inceiling, firepower, acceleration, turning, rate of climb, and ability tozoom climb. The F-86 was marginally faster, and could out-dive the MiGs. When the F-86F was introduced in 1953, the two aircraft became more closely matched, and by the end of the war, many American combat-experienced pilots were claiming a marginal superiority for the F-86F.
The heavier firepower of the MiG, and many other contemporary fighters, was addressed by “Project Gun-Val”[29] which saw the combat testing of seven F-86Fs each armed with four 20 mmT-160 cannons (such F-86s were designated as F-86F-2s). Despite being able to fire only two of the four 20 mm cannon at a time, the experiment was considered a success and signaled the end of the decades-long use of theBrowning .50 caliber in the air-to-air role.[30]
Although the F-86A could be safely flown through Mach 1, the F-86E's all-movingtailplane greatly improved maneuverability at high speeds.[30] The MiG-15 could not safely exceed Mach 0.92, an important disadvantage in near-sonic air combat. Far greater emphasis had been given to the training, aggressiveness, and experience of the F-86 pilots.[31] American Sabre pilots were trained atNellis, where the casualty rate of their training was so high, they were told, "If you ever see the flag at full staff, take a picture." Despiterules of engagement to the contrary, F-86 units frequently initiated combat over MiG bases in the Manchurian "sanctuary".[32]
In October 1951, the Soviets managed to recover a downed Sabre, and in their investigation of the type they concluded that the Sabre's advantage in combat was due to the APG-30 gun-sight that facilitated accurate fire at longer ranges.[25]
RareKorean War F-86 gun camera footage of aMiG-15 shoot-down over Korea
The needs of combat operations balanced against the need to maintain an adequate force structure in Western Europe led to the conversion of the51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing from theF-80 to the F-86 in December 1951. Two fighter-bomber wings, the8th and18th, converted to the F-86F in the spring of 1953.[33]No. 2 Squadron,South African Air Force (SAAF) also distinguished itself flying F-86s in Korea as part of the 18 FBW.[34]
Wreckage of F-86A Sabre (FU-334 / 49-1334) after being bombed on 17 June 1951
The MiGs flown from bases inManchuria by Chinese, North Korean, and SovietVVS pilots were pitted against two squadrons of the4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing forward-based atK-14, Kimpo, Korea.[28] The North Koreans and their allies periodically contested air superiority inMiG Alley, an area near the mouth of the Yalu River (the boundary betweenKorea and China) over which the most intense air-to-air combat took place.
On 17 June 1951, at 01:30,Suwon Air Base was bombed by twoPolikarpov Po-2 biplanes, who each dropped a pair of fragmentation bombs. One scored a hit on the802nd Engineer Aviation Battalion's motor pool, damaging some equipment, and two bombs burst on the flightline of the335th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. One F-86A Sabre (FU-334 / 49-1334) was struck on the wing and began burning, eventually 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, and one F-86 pilot was among the wounded. The North Koreans subsequently credited Lt. La Woon Yung with this attack.[35]
By the end of hostilities, F-86 pilots were initially credited by American sources with having shot down 792 MiGs for a loss of only 78 Sabres in air-to-air combat, a victory ratio of 10:1.[36] Of the 41 American pilots who earned the designation oface during the Korean War, all but one flew the F-86 Sabre, the exception being a NavyVought F4U Corsair night fighter pilot. However, after the war, the USAF reviewed its figures in an investigation code-namedSabre Measure Charlie and downgraded the kill ratio of the North American F-86 Sabre against theMikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 by half, to 5:1.[37] Internally, the USAF accepted that its pilots had actually downed about 200 MiGs[38]
Soviet data records only 335 MiG-15s lost in Korea to all causes, including accidents, antiaircraft fire, and ground attacks.[39] Chinese claims of their losses amount to 224 MiG-15s in Korea.[40] North Korean losses are not known, but according to North Korean defectors, their air force lost around 100 MiG-15s during the war.[41] Thus, 659 MiG-15s are admitted as being lost, many of these to F-86 Sabres.[42] The Soviets claimed to have downed over 600 Sabres,[43] 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.[44]
Suggested reasons for the F-86's success include the fact that many of the American pilots were experienced World War II veterans, while the North Koreans and the Chinese lacked combat experience,[31] but United Nations pilots suspected many of the MiG-15s were being flown by experienced Soviet pilots who also had combat experience in World War II. Former Communist sources now acknowledge Soviet pilots initially flew the majority of MiG-15s that fought in Korea, but they also dispute that more MiG-15s than F-86s were shot down in air combat. Later in the war, North Korean and Chinese pilots increased their participation as combat flyers.[32][45]
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.[46] A recentRAND report made reference to "recent scholarship" of F-86 v MiG-15 combat over Korea and concluded that the actual kill:loss ratio for the F-86 was 1.8:1 overall, and likely closer to 1.3:1 against MiGs flown by Soviet pilots.[38] However, this ratio did not count the number of aircraft of other types (including the B-29, A-26, F-80, F-82, F-84 and Gloster Meteor) shot down by MiG-15 pilots.
Data-matching with Soviet records suggests that US pilots routinely attributed their own combat losses to "landing accidents" and "other causes".[47] According to official US data ("USAF Statistical Digest FY1953"), the USAF lost 224 F-86 fighters in Korea.[48] 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.
TheRepublic 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 onTaiwan had built up an impressive fighter force, with 320 F-86Fs and seven RF-86Fs having been delivered.[51]
During these battles, the ROCAF Sabres introduced a new element into aerial warfare. Under a secret effort designatedOperation Black Magic, the U.S. Navy had provided the ROC with theAIM-9 Sidewinder, its firstinfrared-homingair-to-air missile, which was just entering service with the United States. A small team fromVMF-323, a MarineFJ-4 Fury squadron with later assistance fromChina Lake and North American Aviation, initially modified 20 of the F-86 Sabres to carry a pair of Sidewinders on underwing launch rails and instructed the ROC pilots in their use flying profiles with USAF F-100s simulating the MiG-17. The MiGs enjoyed an altitude advantage over the Sabres, as they had in Korea, and PLAAF MiGs routinely cruised over the ROCAF Sabres, only engaging when they had a favorable position. The Sidewinder took away that advantage and proved to be devastatingly effective against the MiGs.[52]
In 1954,Pakistan started receiving the first of a total of 102 F-86F Sabres under theMutual Defense Assistance Program. Many of these aircraft were F-86F-35s fromUSAF stocks, but some were from the later F-86F-40-NA production block (made specifically for export). Many of the F-35s were brought up to F-40 standards before they were delivered to Pakistan, but a few remained F-35s. The F-86 was operated by ninePakistan Air Force (PAF) squadrons at various times: Nos.5,11,14,15,16,17, 18, 19, and26 Squadrons.[53]
Moreover, in April 1959, a PAF F-86F flown by Flight Lieutenant Yunis of the No. 15 Squadron "Cobras"shot down an IndianCanberra Spy Plane overRawalpindi marking the first aerial victory for the Pakistan Air Force.[54][55][56]
In 1966, Pakistan acquired 90ex-LuftwaffeCL-13 Mk.6s viaIran due to postwarUS sanctions. They were known as the F-86E in the PAF, not to be confused with the North American F-86E variants).[57]
The last of the Sabres were withdrawn from PAF service in 1980 and were replaced with theShenyang F-6 fighters. In total Pakistani pilots flew 320,185 hours in the Sabres out of which about 4,500 hours were flown in wartime operations.[57] They are now on display atPAF Museum andvarious cities around Pakistan.
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
PAF Sabre being shot down by an IAFFolland Gnat in September 1965
In the air-to-air combat of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, the PAF Sabres claimed to have shot down 15Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft, comprising nineHunters, fourVampires, and twoGnats.[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, theIndian Air Force claimed that seven F-86 Sabres were shot down byFolland Gnats and six F-86 Sabres were shot down byHawker Hunters.[66]
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)M3 Browning machine guns. On the same day, eight F-86 fighters of the same squadron executedairstrikes on the IAF Pathankot.[67][68]InEast Pakistan, F-86s from theNo. 14 Squadron struck the Indianairbases ofKalaikunda,Bagdogra,Barrackpore andAgartala which resulted in the destruction of more than 20 Indian aircraft. Theairstrikes on Kalaikunda in particular were highly successful after which the No. 14 Squadron was nicknamed "Tail Choppers".[69]
In total, PakistaniB-57 Canberras and F-86s destroyed around 39 Indianwarplanes on the ground at various IAFairbases.[70][71] However, India claims losing 22 aircraft on the ground.[65]
1971 Civil conflict and subsequent Indo-Pakistani war
At the beginning of the war, PAF had eight squadrons of F-86 Sabres.[73] Along with the newer fighter types such as theMirage III and theShenyang F-6, the Sabres were tasked with the majority of operations during the war. InEast Pakistan, PAF's onlyTail Choppers squadron was equipped with 16F-86Es out of which four were modified to fireAIM-9/GAR-8 missiles.[74]
PAF F-86s performed well, with Pakistani claims of downing 31 Indian aircraft in air-to-air combat. These included 17Hawker Hunters, eightSukhoi Su-7 "Fitters", one MiG 21, and threeGnats[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.[78] The IAF numerical superiority overwhelmed the sole East Pakistan Sabres squadron (and other military aircraft)[75][79] which were either shot down, or grounded by Pakistanifratricide as they could not hold out, enabling completeair superiority for the IAF.[80]
On 26 April 1971, Flight Lt. Abbass led another Sabre formation atPatuakhali where surviving rebels had regrouped after facing a defeat atBarisal by the hands of theArmy. The Sabres struck several rebel strongpoints to soften up resistance after whichSSG units were inserted viaMi-8s to clear out the area.[74]
On theWestern Front, F-86Es and F-86Fs from various PAF squadrons played a vital role in backing thePakistan Army's counter attacks at several sectors with Air support.
AtShakargarh andMarala sectors, PAF F-86F/Es from theNo. 17, No. 18 and26 Squadrons alongsideShenyang F-6s took part in air support missions backing Pakistan'sI Strike Corps counter attacks against the Indian army'sI Corps. Although ill-equipped for anti-tank roles, the Sabres were modified to carrygeneral purpose bombs in an effort to provide as much effective air support as possible.[83][57]
AtThar, F-86E and Fs belonging to the No. 19 Squadron struck Indian army positions during their Close Air Support missions. In total, they destroyed eight Indian tanks and severalmilitary vehicles while also damaging twomilitary trains.[86]
In 1958, theForca 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 toPortuguese 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 theEsquadra 51, based at the BA5 –Monte Real Air Base. These aircraft were used in theGuinea-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 atBissalanca 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.
ThePhilippine Air Force (PAF) first received the Sabres in the form of F-86Fs in 1957, replacing theNorth American P-51 Mustang as theirprimary interceptor. F-86s first operated fromBasa Air Base, known infamously as the "Nest of Vipers", where the 5th Fighter Wing of the PAF was based. Later on, in 1960, the PAF acquired the F-86D as their first all-weather interceptor. The most notable use of the F-86 Sabres was in theBlue Diamonds aerobatic display team, which operated eight Sabres until the arrival of the newer, supersonicNorthrop F-5. The F-86s were subsequently phased out of service in the 1970s as theNorthrop F-5 Freedom Fighter andVought F-8 Crusaders became the primary fighters andinterceptors of the PAF.Antonio Bautista was a Blue Diamonds pilot and a decorated officer. He was killed on 11 January 1974 during a combat sortie against rebels in the south of the country.[citation needed]
Though theIndian Air Force never operated the F-86 Sabre, a small group of IAF pilots trained on the aircraft in theUnited States in 1963–65 under a brief diplomatic arrangement to provide IAF pilots with Gunnery training. The training contributed to doctrinal exposure rather than operational deployment. During training, Indian pilots would often fly with Pakistani,Iranian and NATO forces. India would instead field theFolland Gnat against the F-86 in conflicts with Saber-armed Pakistan.[87][88]
During the Korean War the Soviet search for an intact U.S. F-86 Sabre for evaluation and study purposes was largely frustrated due to the U.S. military's policy of destroying disabled or abandoned weapons and equipment, with USAF pilots destroying most of their downed Sabres bystrafing or bombing. One F-86 was downed in a tidal area, and subsequently submerged, preventing its destruction. The aircraft was ferried to Moscow and a newOKB (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 andradar gun sights also went."[89]
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.[91][failed verification]
The old but nimble MiG-17 had become such a serious threat against theRepublic 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 theF-100 or F-105 was inferior to the F-86H in a dogfight.[92][93]
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-86Fairframe with the F-86E engine (F-86E-10 and E-15 blocks); 60 of these built byCanadair for USAF (F-86E-6)
F-86E(M)
Designation for ex-RAF Sabres diverted to otherNATO air forces
QF-86E
Designation for surplusRCAF 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 byMitsubishi in Japan forJapanese 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: thetactical 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 aRocketdyne 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).[30]
F-86F-2
Designation for 10 aircraft modified to carry theM39 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.[95][Note 3][96]
QF-86F
About 50 former Japan Self-Defense Forces (JASDF) F-86F aircraft converted to drones for use as targets by theU.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, withLow Altitude Bombing System (LABS) and provision fornuclear weapon, North American model NA-187 (F-86H-1 and H-5 blocks) and NA-203 (F-86H-10 block)
Single F-86A-5-NA,49-1069, flown withOrenda turbojet under North American model NA-167 – same designation reserved for A-models flown with the Canadian engines but project not proceeded with
Two types based on the U.S. F-86F were built under licence by theCommonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) in Australia, for theRoyal Australian Air Force as the CA-26 (one prototype) and CA-27 (production variant). The RAAF operated the CA-27 from 1956 to 1971.[98] The CAC Sabres included a 60% fuselage redesign, to accommodate theRolls-Royce Avon Mk 26 engine, which had roughly 50% more thrust than theJ47, as well as30 mm Aden cannon and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. As a consequence of its powerplant, the Australian-built Sabres are commonly referred to as theAvon Sabre. CAC manufactured 112 of these aircraft.[99] Ex-RAAF Avon Sabres were operated by theRoyal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) between 1969 and 1972. From 1973 to 1975, 23 Avon Sabres were donated to theIndonesian Air Force (TNI-AU); five of these were ex-Malaysian aircraft.[100]
One built, prototype based on F-86A-5 with 5,200 lbf (23,000 N) (static thrust) GE J47-GE-13 engine.
Sabre Mk.2
350 built, based on F-86E with all flying tailplane and with GE J47-GE-13 engine.
287 built for theRCAF, 60 for the USAF as the F-86E-6, and three toRAF, .
Sabre Mk.3
One built in Canada as a test-bed for the 6,000 lbf (27,000 N) (static thrust) Orenda 3 jet engine, with structural modifications to fit the larger diameter Orenda.
Sabre Mk.4
438 built with extensive detail modifications from Mk.2.
Ten built for the RCAF, and 428 to RAF as theSabre F.4.
Sabre Mk.5
370 built with more powerful 6,355 lbf (28,270 N) (static thrust) Orenda 10 engine and "6-3" extended leading edges.
370 built for RCAF, from which 75 were later passed on to theGerman Air Force.
Sabre Mk.5A
Mk.5 in which radar and gunsights were replaced with ballast.
Sabre Mk.6
655 built with 7,275 lbf (32,360 N) Orenda 14 (static thrust).
Source: F-86 Sabre Jet: History of the Sabre and FJ Fury[102]
F-86F-30 of the Argentine Air Force, National Aeronautics Museum, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaBAF F-86 Sabre in the BAF MuseumAn F-86 Sabre from theGolden Crown aerobatic display team, of the Imperial Iranian Air Force.F-86 Sabre of Italian Air ForceA retired Pakistan Air Force F-86F Sabre from theNo. 26 Squadron "Black Spiders" on display atNur Khan AirbaseDisplayed JASDF's F-86F Kyokukō atKomatsu AB.Royal Norwegian Air Force North American F-86F SabreF-86 Republic of Korea Air ForcePortuguese F-86F displayed at Monte Real Air BaseF-86 Spanish Air Army, Ember Patrol, Cuatro Vientos, MadridNorth American F-86E Sabre in Istanbul Aviation MuseumNorth American F-86F Sabre of theROKAF
Acquired 28 F-86Fs in 1960. The Sabres were inreserve at the time of theFalklands War but were reinstated to active duty against possible Chilean involvement. Retired in 1986.
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.
Acquired 180 U.S. F-86Fs, 1955–1957.Mitsubishi built 300 F-86Fs under license 1956–1961, and were assigned to 10 fighterhikōtai or squadrons. JASDF called F-86F the "Kyokukō" (旭光, Rising Sunbeam) andF-86D the "Gekkō" (月光, Moon Light). TheirBlue Impulse Aerobatic Team, a total of 18 F-models were converted to reconnaissance version in 1962. Some aircraft were returned to theNaval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, as drones.
Acquired 65 Sabres including 50 U.S.-built F-86Fs, in 1958 and 15 ex-Royal Norwegian Air Force airframes. In Portugal, they served inSquadron 201 (formerly Sqn. 50 and later Sqn. 51, before being renamed in 1978) and Squadron 52, both based atAir Base No. 5,Monte Real. In 1961, the Portuguese Air Force deployed some of its F-86Fs toPortuguese Guinea, where they formed Detachment 52, based at Base-Aerodrome No. 2, Bissalanca/Bissau.
Acquired 112 U.S.-built F-86Fs and 10 RF-86Fs, beginning 20 June 1955; and assigned to ROKAF 10th Wing. It also served with the ROKAFBlack Eagles aerobatic team for annual event from 1959 to 1966. The last F-86s retired in 1990.
ColonelRoyal N. Baker (13 victories), commander USAF 4 FIW.
Wing CommanderJohn Robert Baldwin DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, AFC was a Royal Air Force fighter pilot and the top scoring fighter ace flying theHawker 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.
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 LieutenantJohn 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.
Lieutenant CommanderTheodore 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.[115] Faller managed to bring the stricken aircraft down in a vacant lot 600 yards south of theRidgecrest Heights Elementary School, later renamed Theodore Faller Elementary School.[116]
MajorJohn Glenn, aU.S. Marine Corps exchange pilot with the USAF 51 FIW (3 victories). First American astronaut to orbit the Earth, later aU.S. Senator from Ohio.
Second LieutenantGene Kranz, NASA flight director for Gemini and Apollo and assistant flight director onProject 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 movieThe Hunters by James Horowitz (a.k.a. James Salter); later aVietnam War POW
Squadron LeaderAndy Mackenzie,DFC.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.[118]
Rockets: variety of rocket launchers; e.g.: 2 Matra rocket pods with 18SNEB 68 mm rockets per pod
Bombs: 5,300 lb (2,400 kg) of payload on four externalhardpoints, 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.
^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.[90]
^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.[112]
^Igor Seidov and Stuart Britton. Red Devils over the Yalu: A Chronicle of Soviet Aerial Operations in the Korean War 1950–53 (Helion Studies in Military History). Helion and Company 2014.ISBN978-1909384415. p. 554.
^Zhang, Xiaoming. Red Wings over the Yalu: China, the Soviet Union, and the Air War in Korea (Texas A&M University Military History Series). College Station: Texas A&M University, 2002.ISBN978-1-58544-201-0.
^Kum-Suk No and J. Roger Osterholm. A MiG-15 to Freedom: Memoir of the Wartime North Korean Defector who First Delivered the Secret Fighter Jet to the Americans in 1953. McFarland, 2007.ISBN978-0786431069. p. 142.
^Zhang, Xiaoming.Red Wings over the Yalu: China, the Soviet Union, and the Air War in Korea. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 2002.ISBN1-58544-201-1.
^South Asian Military Handbook. United StatesCentral Intelligence Agency. 1973. pp. GLOS -12.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.
^Group Captain (R) Husseini & Pakistan Air Force. "Trauma & Reconstruction (1971–1980)".PAF over the Years. Directorate of Media Affairs, Pakistan Air Force. p. 69.
Allward, Maurice.F-86 Sabre. London: Ian Allan, 1978.ISBN0-7110-0860-4.
Avila Cruz, Gonzalo (January–February 2004). "Birth of a Modern Force: North American F-86F Sabres in Spain".Air Enthusiast (109):29–45.ISSN0143-5450.
Baldini, Atilio; Núñez Padin, Jorge F. (2009). Núñez Padin, Jorge Felix (ed.).F-86F-30-NA Sabre. Serie Fuerza Aérea (in Spanish). Vol. 16. Bahía Blanca, Argentina: Fuerzas Aeronavales.ISBN978-987-20557-5-2. Archived fromthe original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved20 May 2016.
Dorr, Robert F (1993).F-86 Sabre Jet: History of the Sabre and FJ Fury. St. Paul, Minnesota: Motorbooks International Publishers.ISBN0-87938-748-3.
Futrell, Robert F. (2000).The United States Air Force in Korea, 1950–1953. Air Force History and Museums Program.ISBN0-16-048879-6.
Dunlap, Roy F (1948).Ordnance Went Up Front. Plantersville, SC: Samworth Press.
Gordon, Doug (May–June 1999). "Early Days of the 81st: The 81st TFW USAFE in the 1950s".Air Enthusiast (81):36–43.ISSN0143-5450.
Gordon, Doug (September–October 2003). "Sabre with 'Eyes': The Career of the RF-86".Air Enthusiast. No. 107. pp. 2–11.ISSN0143-5450.
Hoover, R.A. (1997).Forever Flying: Fifty Years of High-Flying Adventures, From Barnstorming in Prop Planes to Dogfighting Germans to Testing Supersonic Jets: An Autobiography. New York: Pocket Books.ISBN978-0-6715-3761-6.
Jenkins, Dennis R. and Tony R. Landis.Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2008.ISBN978-1-58007-111-6.
Joos, Gerhard W. (1971).Canadair Sabre Mk 1–6, Commonwealth Sabre Mk 30–32 in RCAF, RAF, RAAF, SAAF, Luftwaffe & Foreign Service. Kent, UK: Osprey Publications Limited.ISBN0-85045-024-1.
Käsmann, Ferdinand C.W.Die schnellsten Jets der Welt: Weltrekord- Flugzeuge (in German). Oberhaching, Germany: Aviatic Verlag-GmbH, 1994.ISBN3-925505-26-1.
Knaack, Marcelle Size (1978).Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems, Volume 1, Post-World War Two Fighters, 1945–1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History.ISBN0-912799-59-5.
Radinger, Willy; Schick, Walter (1996).Me 262: Entwicklung und Erprobung des ersten einsatzfähigen Düsenjäger der Welt, Messerschmitt Stiftung (in German). Berlin: Avantic Verlag GmbH.ISBN3-925505-21-0.
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