| F-86 Sabre |
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| korean war aircraft | |
| u.s. fighter aircraft 1940-1949 | |
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, 2003 ]] The North American F-86 Sabre was a into the design. Manufacture was not begun until after World War II as a result. The XP-86 prototype, which would become the F-86 Sabre, first flew on October 1 , 1947 . The F-86 was manufactured as both a fighter-interceptor and fighter- Bomber . Several variants were introduced over its production life, with improvements and different armaments implemented (see below). As an example, the J47-GE-7 engine of the F-86A produced a thrust of only 5,200 lbf (23 kN) while the J47-27 engine of the F-86F produced 10,000 lbf (44 kN) of thrust. F-86s were the primary US air-combat fighter during the Korean War , with significant numbers of the first three production models seeing combat. The fighter-bomber version (F-86H) could carry up to 2000 pounds (900 kg) of bombs, including an external fuel-type tank that could carry Napalm . Both the interceptor and fighter versions carried six Browning M3 .50 in (12.7 mm) caliber machine guns in the nose (Later versions of the F-86H carried four 20 mm cannon instead of machine guns). Guns were harmonized to converge at 1000 feet (300 m) in front of the aircraft with one Tracer Bullet for every five rounds. Most rounds used during the Korean War were API (Armor-piercing incendiary) bullets containing Magnesium which were designed to ignite upon impact but which performed poorly above 35,000 feet. Unguided 2.75 inch (70 mm) Rockets were used on some of the fighters in target practice, but 5 inch (127 mm) Rockets were later used in combat operations. The planes could also be fitted with a pair of external jettisonable Fuel tanks (four on the F-86F beginning in 1953) that extended the range of the aircraft. ACTION IN THE KOREAN WAR The F-86 entered service with the United States Air Force in 1949 , joining the 1st Fighter Wing 's 94th Fighter Squadron "Hat-in-the-Ring" and became the primary air-to-air jet fighter used in the Korean War . With the introduction of the Soviet MiG-15 into air combat in November, 1950, in which it seriously out-performed all aircraft then assigned to the United Nations, three squadrons of F-86s were rushed to the Far East in December. The MiG-15, which was slightly superior to the F-86 in ceiling, acceleration, rate of climb, and zoom (until the introduction of the F-86F in 1953); nearly equal in most other performance aspects; and flown from bases in Manchuria by Soviet VVS pilots, was pitted against two squadrons of the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing forward-based at K-14, Kimpo , Korea. Superior US pilot training in comparison to that of its adversaries accounted for much of the F-86's success in achieving air superiority during nearly all of the hostilities. The Soviets and their allies periodically contested air superiority in MiG Alley, a hotbed for air-to-air combat near the mouth of the Yalu River (the boundary between Korea and China ). Some sources attributed the F-86E's all-moving Tailplane to giving the Sabre a decisive advantage over the MiG-15, but this view has not been widely held in later years. Far greater emphasis has been given to the training, aggressiveness and experience of the F-86 pilots. Despite Rules-of-engagement to the contrary, F-86 units frequently initiated combat over MiG bases in the Manchurian "sanctuary". Review of archived and previously classified documents released after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 disputes the numbers of claims by U.S. pilots, stating that the VVS lost only 345 MiGs. In turn the Soviets claimed to have shot down more than 1,300 U.N. aircraft including more than 650 Sabres, while USAF records show 224 F-86s lost to all causes, including non-combat. The disparity between Soviet and U.S. figures is startling. Neither side's loss records verify the majority of the victories claimed by the other side. Many air engagements are corroborated by both sides, but with conflicting claims of kills and losses that are unlikely to be resolved unless scholarly research is conducted into the records of the Soviets and its allies. 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. 2 Squadron SAAF also distinguished itself flying F-86s in Korea as part of the 18 FBW. Notable F-86 aces include:
Others who flew the F-86 in combat include future astronaut and U.S. Senator Major John Glenn , a Marine Corps exchange pilot with the 51 FIW; Colonel Walker "Bud" Mahurin , 51st Group commander and WWII ace; Captain James Horowitz (later James Salter ) 4 FIW, novelist and author of '' The Hunters ''; Squadron Leader Graham Hulse RAF , exchange pilot with the 4 FIW. ACTION IN THE INDO-PAKISTANI WAR OF 1965 In the air to air combats of the Indo-Pakistani War Of 1965 , the PAF lost 15 Sabres to Indian Fighters - 8 to Hawker Hunter s and 7 to Folland Gnat s. In turn, 8 Hunters, 4 Vampires and 2 Gnats were shot down by Sabres. This poor performance was despite the F-86s of the PAF being armed with AIM-9B/GAR-8 Sidewinder missiles whereas none of the Hunters or Gnats had missiles. Tactics called for Gnats taking on the Sabres in the vertical where they had a chance. Sabres however, performed well in ground attack, claiming 10 aircraft on the ground at Indian Airfield s at Halwara and Pathankot. During the war United States barred the sales of the F-86 to Pakistan. Nonetheless, Pakistan maintained its F-86 fleet through sales of Iran ian Sabres and CL-13s ( Canadian -made F-86 Sabres). Despite some early successes in the war, the F-86 proved vulnerable to the dimunitive Folland Gnat, which downed 7 Sabres. ACTION IN THE INDO-PAKISTANI WAR (1971) The collapse of the Pakistan Air Force during the and few of Sabres were lost to enemy aircraft and ground fire. The most notable of these was Battle Of Boyra where 4 Gnats downed 3 Sabres in the first ever Dog Fighting over East Pakistan . After this war, Pakistan replaced its F-86 Sabres with Chinese F-6 (Russian MiG-19 Farmer) fighters. They also expanded their fleet of Mirage IIIs. F-86 Sabres nevertheless remain a legend in Pakistan and are seen as a symbol of pride. They are now displayed in Pakistan Air Force Museum and in the cities to which their famous fliers belonged. COMBAT SERVICE WITH ARGENTINA 28 surplus F-86Fs were sent to the Fuerza Aerea Argentina (FAA) in 1960. The first of these were received on September 26, 1960. FAA Sabres saw action in helping to foil an April 1962 coup attempt against the established government. The FAA Sabres attacked the Navy base at Punta Indio and destroyed a Navy C-54 on the ground, helping to quelch the coup. Argentina attempted to sell F-86Fs to Venezuela in 1976, but the deal was embargoed by the United States. The planes were then offered to Uruguay, but the deal fell through just before they were scheduled to be delivered. During the Falklands/Malvinas war of 1982, there was some thought to FAA Sabres being deployed to Port Stanley, but this idea was deemed impractical. COMBAT SERVICE WITH PORTUGAL In 1958, the Forca Aerea Portuguesa (FAP) received 50 F-86Fs from ex-USAF stocks. A small number of former Norwegian Air Force F-86Fs were also purchased as spares in 1968-69. All of them were brought up to F-86F-40 standards, including Sidewinder capability. Two Portuguese squadrons (Esc. 51 and 52) operated these Sabres. In August of 1961, eight FAP Sabres were deployed to Portuguese Guinea in a show of force against the insurgents. They ended up staying for three years, flying ground attack and close support missions against the rebels. The were withdrawn from Guinea in October of 1964. The last six FAP Sabres were withdrawn in July of 1980. COMBAT SERVICE WITH SOUTH AFRICA During the Korean War, the South African Air Force operated 22 F-86F-30-NA Sabres on loan from the USAF. They flew with No. 2 "Cheetah" Squadron in Korea, which was attached to the 18th FBW of the USAF, carrying out 2032 combat sorties during the last few months of the Korean War. Six were written off during action. Following the end of the Korean War, the SAAF Sabres were returned to the USAF, and were transferred to Taiwan via MAP. To replace them, 34 Canadair Sabre Mk 6s were delivered to the SAAF in April of 1954. COMBAT SERVICE WITH TAIWAN ROC The Chinese Nationalist Air Force on Taiwan was one of the first recipients of these surplus USAF Sabres. During December 1954 to June 1956, the Chinese Nationalist Air Force got 160 ex-USAF F-86F-1-NA through F-86F-30-NA fighters. By June of 1958, the Nationalist Chinese had built up an impressive fighter force, with 320 F-86Fs and seven RF-86Fs having been delivered. Sabres and MiGs were shortly to battle each other in the skies of Asia once again. In August of 1958, the Communist mainland tried to force the Nationalists off of the islands of Quemoy and Matsu by shelling and by blockade. Nationalist F-86Fs flying top cover over the islands found themselves confronted with Communist MiG-15s and MiG-17s, and there were numerous dogfights. During these battles, the Nationalist Sabres introduced a new element into aerial warfare--many of them were carrying a pair of early model AIM-9 Sidewinder infrared-homing air-to-air missiles on underwing launching rails. The Sidewinder proved to be devastatingly effective against the MiGs. In one air battle on September 24, 1958, Nationalist Sabres succeeded in destroying ten MiGs and scoring two probables without loss to themselves. In one month of air battles over Quemoy and Matsu, Nationalist pilots destroyed no less than 29 MiGs and got eight probables, against a loss of two F-84Gs and no Sabres. The Nationalist pilots had far more flying experience than did their Communist opponents. Many Nationalist victories were often against straggling MiGs left without wingmen. There have been some reports that US Navy pilots were flying many of the Sabres that participated in these battles. COMBAT SERVICE WITH VENEZUELA The Fuerzas Aereas Venezolanas received 30 ex-USAF F-86Fs in 1955-60. These were operated by Grupo Area de Caza No. 12, Escuadron de Caza 36 Jaguares and possibly also by Escuadron de Cazas 37 and 38. These operated alongside F-86Ks acquired from Luftwaffe surplus stocks. Four FAV F-86Fs participated in an abortive coup in 1958, strafing the presidential palace in Caracas. Six F-86Fs were lost in accidents. Most surviving F-86Fs were grounded in 1969. The F-86Fs were retired in 1971, nine going to Bolivia. BREAKING THE SOUND BARRIER The chief Aerodynamicist for the project suggested (and one of its other test pilots claimed) that North American Test Pilot George Welch actually broke the sound barrier on the first test flight, 14 days before Chuck Yeager went supersonic in the Bell X-1 .) Officially, the XP-86 first broke the sound barrier on April 26, 1948. However, a plausable but unrecognized claim is made that Welch broke the sound barrier in the XP-86, while in a dive, on October 1 , 1947 , 14 days before Chuck Yeager officially became the first man to exceed Mach 1 in the Bell X-1 . (The X-1 was the first aircraft to sustain supersonic speeds in level flight making it the first true supersonic aircraft. The F-86 was never considered a supersonic aircraft.) PRODUCTION HISTORY , shown here with one of the original XP-86s, was the chief test pilot of the Sabre program.]]
The type was produced under licence by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in Australia as the CA-27 Sabre, re-engined with the Rolls-Royce Avon and armed with 30mm Aden Cannons for the RAAF :
The F-86 was also manufactured by Canadair in Canada as the CL-13 Sabre to replace its De Havilland Vampire s, with the following production models:
See also FJ Fury for production figures of USN versions.
NAA built a total of 6,297 F-86's and 1,115 FJ's. Canadair built 1,815; CAC 112, Fiat 221, and Mitsubishi 300, for a total Sabre/Fury production of 9,860. Several Sabres are still held by private owners, including a handful that still fly at airshows and aviation events. OPERATORS
SPECIFICATIONS (F-86A)
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