Time Period: Post-WW2
Country of Origin: United States
Type: Fighter Aircraft
Manufacturer: North American Aviation
North American F-86 Sabre Aircraft Overview
The North American F-86 Sabre was a jet fighter aircraft developed in the late 1940s and early 1950s by North American Aviation for the United States Air Force. The F-86 was designed to meet the Air Force’s need for a high-performance jet fighter capable of countering Soviet MiG-15s in aerial combat during the Korean War.
The F-86 was powered by a single General Electric J47 turbojet engine and had a top speed of around Mach 0.9. It was armed with six .50 caliber machine guns and could carry a variety of bombs and rockets. The aircraft had a distinctive swept-wing design, which gave it excellent maneuverability and high-speed performance.
The F-86 quickly proved itself to be a highly effective fighter aircraft in combat, with many pilots crediting it with giving them a decisive advantage over the Soviet-built MiG-15s they faced in the skies over Korea. The F-86 went on to serve with distinction in a number of other conflicts, including the Taiwan Strait Crisis and the Vietnam War.
The F-86 also served as the basis for a number of other aircraft designs, including the F-86D Sabre Dog interceptor and the F-86F Sabre fighter bomber. More than 9,800 F-86s were produced, and the aircraft served with dozens of air forces around the world see below). Today, the F-86 is considered a classic fighter aircraft and is widely admired for its contributions to the development of modern jet fighters.
North American F-86 Models
The North American F-86 Sabre, a jet fighter developed in the late 1940s and used extensively during the Korean War, had several models, each with specific roles, enhancements, or features.
F-86A
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The initial production version.
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Powered by the General Electric J47 engine.
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Equipped with a radar-ranging gun sight.
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Primarily used for air superiority.
F-86E
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Improved version of the F-86A.
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Introduced an all-moving horizontal stabilizer for better high-speed handling.
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Featured more advanced controls and systems.
F-86F
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Enhanced fighter-bomber variant.
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Upgraded J47 engine for improved performance.
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Equipped with a stronger wing structure and capable of carrying bombs and rockets.
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Widely used during the Korean War.
F-86H
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A specialized fighter-bomber variant.
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Powered by a more powerful J73 engine.
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Designed for ground attack missions with increased payload capacity.
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Shorter nose compared to earlier versions to accommodate a larger engine intake.
F-86D (Sabre Dog)
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An all-weather interceptor version.
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Featured a distinct radome above the nose for radar equipment.
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Armed with rockets instead of guns for air-to-air combat.
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Often considered a significantly different aircraft from other Sabre models.
F-86K
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A derivative of the F-86D for NATO allies.
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Modified to use cannons instead of rockets.
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Built under license by Fiat in Italy for European air forces.
F-86L
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Upgraded version of the F-86D.
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Enhanced avionics and fire control systems.
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Modified for use in the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system.
Canadair Sabre
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License-built versions of the F-86 by Canadair in Canada.
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Models include Mk.1 through Mk.6, with incremental improvements such as more powerful engines and redesigned wings.
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Widely exported to allied countries.
Common Export Versions
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CAC Sabre: Australian-built version produced by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, fitted with the Rolls-Royce Avon engine for better performance.
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F-86F Variants: Modified for specific export requirements, such as armament and avionics configurations.
North American F-86F-40-NA Specifications
- Crew: 1
- Dimensions: Length: 37 ft 1 in (11.30 m), Wingspan: 39 ft 1 in (11.91 m), Height: 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m)
- Wing Area: 313.4 sq ft (29.12 m²)
- Airfoil: NACA 0009-64 mod. (root), NACA 0008.1-64 mod. (tip)
- Weights: Empty: 11,125 lb (5,046 kg); Gross: 15,198 lb (6,894 kg); Max Takeoff: 18,152 lb (8,234 kg)
- Fuel Capacity: 437 US gal (1,650 L) internal + 2x 200 US gal (760 L) drop tanks
- Engine: 1 × General Electric J47-GE-27 turbojet, 5,910 lbf (26.3 kN) thrust
North American F-86F-40-NA Performance
- Max Speed: 687 mph (1,106 km/h) at sea level; 599 mph (964 km/h) at 22,835 ft (6,960 m)
- Stall Speed: 124 mph (200 km/h)
- Range: 1,525 mi (2,454 km); Combat Range: 414 mi (666 km) with load and drop tanks
- Ceiling: 49,600 ft (15,100 m)
- Climb Rate: 9,000 ft/min (46 m/s); 30,000 ft in 5 min 12 sec
- Lift-to-Drag Ratio: 15; Thrust-to-Weight: 0.42
North American F-86F-40-NA Armament
- Guns: 6 X 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M3 Browning machine guns (1,800 rounds in total)
- Rockets: variety of rocket launchers; e.g.: 2 Matra rocket pods with 18 SNEB 68 mm rockets per pod
- Bombs: 5,300 lb (2,400 kg) of payload on four external hardpoints, bombs were usually mounted on outer two pylons as the inner pairs were plumbed for 2 200 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.
