North American
F-86
Sabre
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F-86A
Photo: Robert Deering 10/18/2012

National Museum of the USAF
Wright-Patterson AFB (FFO)

Dayton, Ohio

F-86A
Photo: Robert Deering 10/23/2006
National Air and Space Museum
Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Chantilly, Virginia

F-86D
Photo: Robert Deering 10/18/2012

National Museum of the USAF
Wright-Patterson AFB (FFO)

Dayton, Ohio

F-86D
Photo: Robert Deering 1969

Taegu Air Base (K-2)
Taegu, Korea

F-86D
Photo: Robert Deering 1/17/2014
North Texas Regional Airport (GYI)
Sherman, Texas
The F-86, the USAF's first swept-wing jet fighter, made its initial flight on Oct. 1, 1947. The first production model flew on May 20, 1948, and on Sept. 15, 1948, an F-86A set a new world speed record of 670.9 mph. Originally designed as a high-altitude day-fighter, it was subsequently redesigned into an all-weather interceptor (F-86D) and a fighter-bomber (F-86H).

As a day fighter, the airplane saw service in Korea in three successive series (F-86A, E and F), where it engaged the Russian-built MiG-15. By the end of hostilities, it had shot down 792 MiGs at a loss of only 76 Sabres, a victory ratio of 10 to 1.

Development of the F-86 evolved from the straight-winged FJ-1 of the U.S. Navy, and then became the inspiration for the swept-wing FJ-2, FJ-3, and FJ-4 (Designated F-1 from 1962 and later).


More than 5,500 Sabre day-fighters were built in the United States and Canada. The airplane was also used by the air forces of 20 other nations, including West Germany, Japan, Spain, Britain and Australia.
 
F-86E
Photo: Robert Deering 5/27/2017

Cavanaugh Flight Museum
Addison Airport (ADS)

Addison, Texas

F-86A
Photo: Robert Deering 1975
Pate Museum of Transportation
Cresson, Texas
 
SPECIFICATIONS: PERFORMANCE:
Span: 37 ft. 1 in.
Length:  37 ft. 6 in.
Height:  14 ft. 8 in
Empty Weight:  

Gross Weight:  13,791 lbs. loaded
Crew: One
Maximum speed: 685 mph
Cruising speed: 540 mph
Range: 1,200 miles
Service ceiling: 49,000 ft.
Engines: One General Electric J47 turbojet of 5,200 lbs. thrust
Armament: Six .50-cal. machine guns and eight 5-in. rockets or 2,000 lbs. of bombs
   
SOURCE: National Museum of the United States Air Force  
VARIANTS:

RF-86
"Haymaker" Sabre
 
F-1 / FJ
Fury

F-86 Sabre
1959 DOD Aircraft
Recognition Manual Pages

F-86D Sabre
1959 DOD Aircraft
Recognition Manual Pages