North American F-86 Sabre

Development

North American Aviation had produced the propeller-powered P-51 Mustang in World 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 the FJ-1 Fury. It was an unexceptional transitional jet fighter that had a straight wing derived from the P-51. Initial proposals to meet a United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) requirement for a medium-range, single-seat, high-altitude, jet-powered day escort fighter/fighter bomber were drafted in mid-1944. In early 1945, North American Aviation submitted four designs. 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). Despite the gain in speed, early studies revealed the XP-86 would have the same performance as its rivals, the XP-80 and XP-84. Because these rival designs were more advanced in their development stages, North American 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); 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 of flight-research data seized from the German aerodynamicists at the end of World War II. These data showed that a thin, swept wing could greatly reduce drag and delay compressibility problems that had bedeviled fighters such as the Lockheed P-38 Lightning when approaching the speed of sound. 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 modified NACA four-digit airfoils, NACA 0009.5–64 at the root and NACA 0008.5–64 at the tip, with an automatic slat design based on that of the Messerschmitt Me 262 and an electrically adjustable stabilizer, another feature of the Me 262A. Many Sabres had a "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. 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.

Breaking sound barrier and other records

The F-86A set its first official world speed record of 671 miles per hour (1,080 km/h) on 15 September 1948, at Muroc Dry Lake, flown by Major Richard L. Johnson, USAF. 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, alongside Chuck Yeager. 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).

On 2 February 1958, a team of Pakistan Air Force F-86 Sabres called "Falcons" set a world record at PAF Base Masroor by performing a loop while in a 16 aircraft diamond formation. The team was led by then-Wing Commander Zafar Masud.

Design

Overview

The F-86 was produced as both a fighter-interceptor and fighter-bomber. Several variants were introduced over its production life, with improvements and different armament implemented (see below). The XP-86 was fitted with a General Electric J35-C-3 jet engine that produced 4,000 lbf (18 kN) of thrust. This engine was built by GM's Chevrolet division until production was turned over to Allison. The General Electric J47-GE-7 engine was used in the F-86A-1 producing a thrust of 5,200 lbf (23 kN), while the General Electric J73-GE-3 engine of the F-86H produced 9,250 lbf (41 kN) of thrust.

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 carry napalm. 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) cannons instead of machine guns). Firing at a rate of 1,200 rounds per minute, the 0.50 in (12.7 mm) guns were harmonized 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 API tracer for every five AP or API rounds. The API rounds used during the Korean War contained magnesium, 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. Initial planes were fitted with the Mark 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 used radar to automatically compute a target's range, which later proved to be advantageous against MiG opponents over Korea.

Flying characteristics

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.

As F-86 models continued to be upgraded, the learning process continued. Important design changes included switching from an elevator/stabilizer to an all-flying tail, discontinuation of leading-edge slats for a solid wing with a small, forward-mounted wing 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. The danger of over-rotation is now a major area of instruction and concern for current F-86 pilots. The 1972 Sacramento Canadair Sabre accident resulting in 22 fatalities and 28 other casualties was a result of over-rotation on take-off.

Operational history

Korean War

The F-86 entered service with the USAF in 1949, joining the 1st Fighter Wing's 94th Fighter Squadron and became the primary air-to-air jet fighter used by the Americans in the Korean War. While earlier straight-winged jets such as the P-80 and F-84 initially achieved air victories, when the swept-wing MiG-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. The MiG-15 was superior to early F-86 models in ceiling, firepower, acceleration, turning, rate of climb, and ability to zoom 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, which saw the combat testing of seven F-86Fs, each armed with four 20 mm T-160 cannons (such F-86s were designated as F-86F-2s). Despite being able to fire only two of the four 20 mm cannons at a time, the experiment was considered a success and signaled the end of the decades-long use of the Browning .50 caliber in the air-to-air role.

Although the F-86A could be safely flown through Mach 1, the F-86E's all-moving tailplane greatly improved maneuverability at high speeds. 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. American Sabre pilots were trained at Nellis, 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." Despite rules of engagement to the contrary, F-86 units frequently initiated combat over MiG bases in the Manchurian "sanctuary".

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 radar gunsight that facilitated accurate fire at longer ranges.

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. No. 2 Squadron, South African Air Force also distinguished itself flying F-86s in Korea as part of the 18 FBW.

1958 Taiwan Strait crisis

The Republic 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 on Taiwan 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 the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis. In August 1958, the Chinese Communists of the People's Republic of China attempted to force the ROC Nationalists off the islands of Quemoy and Matsu by shelling and blockade. ROCAF F-86Fs flying combat air patrol over the islands found themselves confronted by People's Liberation Army Air Force MiG-15s and MiG-17s, and numerous dogfights resulted.

During these battles, the ROCAF Sabres introduced a new element into aerial warfare. Under a secret effort designated Operation Black Magic, the U.S. Navy had provided the ROC with the AIM-9 Sidewinder, its first infrared-homing air-to-air missile, which was just entering service with the United States. A small team from VMF-323, a Marine FJ-4 Fury squadron with later assistance from China 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.

Pakistan Air Force

In 1954, Pakistan started receiving the first of a total of 102 F-86F Sabres under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program. Many of these aircraft were F-86F-35s from USAF 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 nine Pakistan Air Force (PAF) squadrons at various times: Nos. 5, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 26 Squadrons.

Moreover, in April 1959, a PAF F-86F flown by Flight Lieutenant Yunis of the No. 15 Squadron "Cobras" shot down an Indian English Electric Canberra spy plane over Rawalpindi, marking the first aerial victory for the PAF.

In 1966, Pakistan acquired 90 ex-Luftwaffe CL-13 Mk.6s via Iran due to postwar US sanctions. They were known as the F-86E in the PAF, not to be confused with the North American F-86E variants).

The last few of the Sabres were withdrawn from PAF service in 1980 and were replaced with the Shenyang 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. They are now on display at PAF Museum and various cities around Pakistan.

In late 1960, regular and irregular Afghan forces invaded the Bajaur area of North West Frontier Province in an attempt to annex the region. In response, PAF F-86s were sent to support the Pakistani forces and local Pakistani Pashtun tribesmen who were fighting the Afghan infiltrators. The Sabres also executed bombing runs on Royal Afghan Army positions in Kunar, which were attacking Frontier Corps border posts. Although the Royal Afghan Air Force had seven MiG-17 squadrons and another MiG-21 squadron being operational, no dogfight has been recorded between the two sides.

The Sabre was no longer a world-class fighter (due to availability of supersonic jets), but various sources state the F-86 gave the PAF a technological advantage in 1965.

Air to air combat

Portuguese Air Force

In 1958, the Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea 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 to Portuguese Guinea in 1961, to guarantee its air defence against possible aggressions from hostile neighboring countries. The aircraft formed the Detachment 52, based at AB2 – Bissalanca Air Base, Bissau. Detachment 52 was initially equipped with eight F-86Fs (serials: 5307, 5314, 5322, 5326, 5354, 5356, 5361, and 5362) from Squadron 51, based at the BA5 – Monte Real Air Base. With the start of the Guinea-Bissau War of Independence in the early 1963, the F-86F were employed 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, the then 16 F-86Fs based at Bissalanca 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.

Philippine Air Force

The Philippine Air Force (PhAF) first received the Sabres in the form of F-86Fs in 1957, replacing the North American P-51 Mustang as their

primary interceptor. F-86s first operated from Basa Air Base, known infamously as the "Nest of Vipers", where the 5th Fighter Wing of the PhAF 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 the Blue Diamonds aerobatic display team, which operated eight Sabres until the arrival of the newer, supersonic Northrop F-5. The F-86s were subsequently phased out of service in the 1970s as the F-5 Freedom Fighter and Vought F-8 Crusaders became the primary fighters and interceptors of the PhAF. 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.

Indian Air Force

Though the Indian Air Force never operated the F-86 Sabre, a small group of IAF pilots trained on the aircraft in the United 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 the Folland Gnat against the F-86 in conflicts with Saber-armed Pakistan.

Soviet Sabre

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 by strafing 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 new OKB (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 and radar gun sights also went."

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. The F-86 studies also contributed to the development of aircraft aluminum alloys such as V-95.

Feather Duster

The old but nimble MiG-17 had become such a serious threat against the Republic 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 the F-100 or F-105 was inferior to the F-86H in a dogfight.

Variants

North American F-86

XF-86

three prototypes, originally designated XP-86, North American model NA-140

YF-86A

this was the first prototype fitted with a General Electric J47 turbojet engine.

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, 48–317 & 48–318, order for 118 cancelled, North American model NA-157

YF-95A

Prototype all-weather interceptor, two built, designation changed to YF-86D, North American model NA-164

F-86D/L

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.

North American FJ Fury

See: North American FJ-2/-3 Fury for production figures of U.S. Navy versions.

CAC Sabre (Australia)

Two types based on the U.S. F-86F were built under licence by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) in Australia, for the Royal Australian Air Force as the CA-26 (one prototype) and CA-27 (production variant). The RAAF operated the CA-27 from 1956 to 1971. The CAC Sabres included a 60% fuselage redesign, to accommodate the Rolls-Royce Avon Mk 26 engine, which had roughly 50% more thrust than the J47, as well as 30 mm Aden cannon and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. As a consequence of its powerplant, the Australian-built Sabres are commonly referred to as the Avon Sabre. CAC manufactured 112 of these aircraft. Ex-RAAF Avon Sabres were operated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) between 1969 and 1972. From 1973 to 1975, 23 Avon Sabres were donated to the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU); five of these were ex-Malaysian aircraft.

CA-27 marques:

Mk 30: 21 built, wing slats, Avon 20 engine.

Mk 31: 21 built, 6–3 wing, Avon 20 engine.

Mk 32: 69 built, four wing pylons, F-86F fuel capacity, Avon 26 engine.

Canadair Sabre

The F-86 was also manufactured by Canadair in Canada as the CL-13 Sabre to replace its de Havilland Vampires, with the following production models:

Sabre Mk.1

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 the RCAF, 60 for the USAF as the F-86E-6, and three to RAF, .

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 the Sabre 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 the German Air Force.

Sabre Mk.5A

Mk.5 in which radar and gunsights were replaced with ballast.

Sabre Mk.6

Production summary

NAA built a total of 6,297 F-86s and 1,115 FJs,

Canadair built 1,815,

Australian CAC built 112,

Fiat built 221, and

Mitsubishi built 300;

for a total Sabre/Fury production of 9,860.

Production costs

Note: The costs are in approximately 1950 United States dollars and have not been adjusted for inflation.

Operators

Source: F-86 Sabre Jet: History of the Sabre and FJ Fury

Argentina

Argentine Air Force

Acquired 28 F-86Fs in 1960. The Sabres were in reserve at the time of the Falklands War but were reinstated to active duty against possible Chilean involvement. Retired in 1986.

Australia

Royal Australian Air Force

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Air Force

Captured 8 F-86F-40-NAs from Pakistan.

Belgium

Belgian Air Force

5 F-86F Sabres delivered, no operational unit.

Bolivia

Bolivian Air Force

Canada

Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)

Colombia

Colombian Air Force

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.

Denmark

Royal Danish Air Force

59 F-86D-31NA(38) F-86D-36NA(21)s in service from 1958 to 1966 ESK 723, ESK 726, ESK 728

Civil aviation

According to the FAA there are 50 privately owned and registered F-86s in the US, including Canadair CL-13 Sabres.

Notable pilots

Sqn Ldr (later Air commodore) M. M. Alam, Pakistan Air Force, became a flying ace by shooting down five Indian Air Force fighters within one minute in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. He was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat ("The star of courage") and bar.

Colonel Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, USAF test pilot and NASA astronaut of Apollo 11 fame. Credited with having shot down two MiGs over Korea.

Major Rudolf Anderson, Jr. USAF (4028th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron). Shot down and killed in 1962 while flying a U-2 spy plane over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Colonel Royal N. Baker (13 victories), commander USAF 4 FIW.

Wing Commander John Robert Baldwin DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, AFC was a Royal Air Force fighter pilot and the top scoring fighter ace flying the Hawker 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.

Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Bautista of the Philippine Air Force received the Distinguished Conduct Star for his valor and bravery in providing close air support to ground forces.

Major General Frederick C. Blesse (10 victories)

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 Lieutenant John 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.

Specifications (F-86F-40-NA)

Data from The North American Sabre and North American F-86F-40-NAGeneral characteristics

Crew: 1

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: root: NACA 0009-64 mod.; tip: NACA 0008.1-64 mod.

Empty weight: 11,125 lb (5,046 kg)

Gross weight: 15,198 lb (6,894 kg)

Max takeoff weight: 18,152 lb (8,234 kg)

Fuel capacity: JP-4 fuel: 437 US gallons (364 imp gal; 1,650 L) internals + 2 x 200 US gallons (170 imp gal; 760 L) drop tanks

Powerplant: 1 × General Electric J47-GE-27 turbojet engine, 5,910 lbf (26.3 kN) thrust

Performance

Maximum speed: 687 mph (1,106 km/h, 597 kn) at sea level at 14,212 lb (6,446 kg) combat weight

599 mph (521 kn; 964 km/h) at 35,000 ft (10,668 m) at 15,352 lb (6,964 kg)

Stall speed: 124 mph (200 km/h, 108 kn)

Range: 1,525 mi (2,454 km, 1,325 nmi)

Combat range: 414 mi (666 km, 360 nmi) with two 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs and 2x 200 US gallons (170 imp gal; 760 L) drop tanks