F-86 Sabre

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Image:North American F86-01.JPG The North American F-86 Sabre was a subsonic combat aircraft developed for the US Air Force. The F-86 was developed in the 1940s following the end of WWII and was one of the most-produced western jet fighters. Initial proposals to meet a USAAF requirement for a single-seat high-altitude day fighter/escort fighter/fighter-bomber were made in late 1944, and were derived from the design of the straight-wing FJ Fury being developed for the US Navy. Performance requirements were met by incorporating a swept-back wing with a 5:1 aspect ratio 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.

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Action in the Korean War

Image:F86Sabre.JPG 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.

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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 Hunters and 7 to Folland Gnats. 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 airfields 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 Iranian 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.

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Action in the Indo-Pakistani War (1971)

The collapse of the Pakistan Air Force during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 is partly attributed to the poor performance of the F-86s and F-104 Starfighters. In general, these were dominated by the much more modern Soviet MiG-21s acquired by the Indian Air Force. Even the venerable Gnats of the IAF once again demonstrated their hold over the Sabres downing several craft and earning the reputation of "Sabre killer". [1] All PAF squadrons were demolished in East Pakistan 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.


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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.)

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Production history

Image:George Welch.JPG

  • XF-86 — three 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 — prototype all-weather interceptor originally ordered as YF-95A, two built but designation changed to YF-86D, North American model NA-164
  • F-86D — production interceptor originally designated F-95A, 2,506 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). The F-86D had only 25% commonality with other Sabre variants, marked by a larger fuselage to house a radome and larger afterburning engine.
  • F-86E — improved flight control system and an all-flying tail; 456 built, North American model NA-170 (F-86E-1 and E-5 blocks), NA-172, essentially the F-86F airframe with the F-86E engine (F-86E-10 and E-15 blocks); 60 of these built by Canadair for USAF (F-86E-6)
  • 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 — uprated engine and larger "6-3" wing without leading edge slats, 2,239 built; 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); 300 additional 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 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 as the CA-27 Sabre, re-engined with the Rolls-Royce Avon and armed with 30mm Aden cannons for the RAAF:

  • CA-26 - 1 built as prototype with imported engine
  • Sabre Mk 30 - 21 built, wing slats, Avon 20 engine
  • Sabre Mk 31 - 21 built, 6-3 wing, Avon 20 engine
  • Sabre Mk 32 - 69 built, 4 wing pylons, F-86F fuel capacity, Avon 26 engine

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 F-86A
  • Sabre Mk 2 - 350 built, F-86E-type, 60 to USAF, 3 to RAF, 287 to RCAF
  • Sabre Mk 3 - one built in Canada, test-bed for the Orenda jet engine
  • Sabre Mk 4 - 438 built, production Mk 3, 10 to RCAF, 428 to RAF as Sabre F.4
  • Sabre Mk 5 - 370 built, F-86F-type with Orenda engine, 295 to RCAF, 75 to Luftwaffe
  • Sabre Mk 6 - 655 built, 390 to RCAF, 225 to Luftwaffe, 6 to Colombia and 34 to South Africa

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.

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Operators

  • Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Burma, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States (Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy), Venezuela, Yugoslavia
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Specifications (F-86A)

Image:F-86 3-view.jpg Template:Airtemp

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References

  • Allward, Maurice; F-86 Sabre, Ian Allen, London 1978
  • Curtis, Duncan; North American F-86 Sabre, Crowood, Ramsbury 2000
  • Knaack, Marcelle Size, Encyclopedia of U.S. Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems, Volume 1, Post-World War Two Fighters, 1945-1973: Office of Air Force History, Washington, D.C., 1978.
  • Swanborough, F. G., United States Military Aircraft since 1909 : Putnam, London and New York, 1963.
  • Wagner, Ray, American Combat Planes - Second Edition : Doubleday and Company, Garden City, New York, 1968.
  • Werrell, Kenneth P, Sabres Over MiG Alley , Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, 2005, ISBN 1-59114-933-9
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External links

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