F-86 Sabre

The F-86 Sabre was a subsonic combat aircraft developed for the US Air Force. It was developed in 1940s following the end of WWII and was one of the most prolific jet fighters produced. The first proposals for the North American Aviation F-86 Sabre were made in 1944, but construction was not begun until after World War II. The XP-86 prototype, which would become the F-86 Sabre, first flew on October 1, 1947. Some people contest that the XP-86 broke the sound barrier on this flight, 14 days before Chuck Yeager went supersonic in the Bell X-1 making test pilot George Welch the first pilot to achieve this milestone.

Production history

• XF-86 — three unarmed protypes, originally designated XP-86, North American model NA-140
• 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, order for 118 cancelled, North American model NA-157
• YF-86D — all-weather night-fighter model originally ordered as YF-95A, two built but designation changed to YF-86D, North American model NA-164
• F-86D — production model of night-fighter originally designated F-95A, 2,504 built, North American model NA-165 (F-86D-1 through D-15 blocks), NA-177 (F-86D-20 and first order of D-25 blocks), NA-173 (second order of F-86D-25 and D-30 through D-35 blocks), NA-190 (F-86D-45 and D-50 blocks) and NA-201 (F-86D-55 and D-60 blocks)
• F-86E — As F-86A but with an all-flying tail, 456 built, North American model NA-170 (F-86E-1 and E-5 blocks), NA-172 (F-86E-10 and E-15 blocks; also F-86E-6-CAN block for Royal Canadian Air Force - some later to the Royal Air Force)
• 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 — as F-86E but with uprated engine and extended "6-3" wing leading edge, 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 which 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); some airframes in this series assembled by Mitsubishi in Japan for Japanese Air Self-Defense Force
• QF-86F — about 50 former JASDF F-86F airframes 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 eighteen 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
• F-86G — provisional designation for F-86D variant with uprated engine and equipment changes, 406 built as F-86D models
• 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 airframes for use at United States Naval Weapons Center
• F-86J — single F-86A-5-NA, serial 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
• YF-86K — Basic version of F-86D intended for export with rocket tray replaced by four 20 mm cannon and simplified fire control system, two conversions
• F-86K — NATO version of F-86D with 120 built by North American and 221 kits for assembly by Fiat, North American model NA-222 (first 50 as F-86K-NF), NA-213 (F-86K-13 through K-19 blocks) and NA-221 (125 F-86K-NF assembled by Fiat) and NA-242 (final 45 F-86K-NF by assembled by Fiat)
• F-86L — Upgrade conversion of F-86D with new electronics, extended wingtips and wing leading edges, revised cockpit layout and uprated engine with reheat, 981 converted

The type was produced under licence by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in Australia, re-engined with the Rolls-Royce Avon, and also by Canadair in Canada. Later improvements led to the F-100 Super Sabre, which was a larger aircraft with more powerful engines.

Related Topics:
Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation - Australia - Rolls-Royce Avon - Canadair - Canada - F-100 - Aircraft

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Approximately 9500 were constructed. According to the Office of Air Force History, the USAF accepted 6,353 F-86s (all models included), 5,893 of them for its own use and 460 ordered into production for MDAP. A breakdown of the USAF total showed three experimental and prototype F-86As, 554 F-86As, 393 F-86Es, 1,959 F-86Fs, two YF-86Hs, 473 F-86Hs, two YF-86Ds and 2,504 F-86Ds (all F-86Ls being converted F-86Ds). The MDAP count was 60 F-86Es, 280 F-86Fs, and 120 F-86Ks. Several are still held by private owners, including a handful that still fly at airshows and aviation events.

Related Topics:
MDAP

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